VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Kadanoff-Baym kinetic theory for a trapped Bose-condensed gas

Using the Kadanoff-Baym non-equilibrium Green's function formalism, we derive the equations of motion for the dynamics of a trapped dilute Bose-condensed atomic gas at finite temperatures. These include an equation of motion for the macroscopic wavefunction describing the atoms in the condensate, as well as a Boltzmann-like kinetic equation for the single-particle distribution function describing the atoms thermally excited out of the condensate. We derive these equations using several self-energy approximations for the non-condensate atoms. At high enough temperatures, one can work within the first order Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approximation for the Beliaev self-energy functions and derive a "collisionless" kinetic equation. We then extend this analysis to include the second-order self-energy contributions associated with two-body collisions, leading to a Boltzmann-like equation for Bose atoms, with the collision integrals included. This equation, combined with the generalized Gross-Pitaevskii equation of motion for the condensate atoms, has been extensively used by Zaremba, Nikuni and Griffin. The role of collisions which transfers atoms between the condensate and non-condensate component is emphasized. The major result of this thesis is a generalization of previous studies to very low temperatures, where the non-condensate thermal cloud atoms are treated in the so-called Bogoliubov-Popov approximation. We derive a kinetic equation for the resulting quasiparticles (instead of atoms) and show how the collision integrals are modified by Bogoliubov coherence factors. A detailed comparison is made with previous discussion of the non-equilibrium behaviour of uniform interacting Bose gases, including the work of Kirkpatrick and Dorfman as well as Eckern.
Leading from and for the margins, emancipatory/transformational educational leadership for social justice

This qualitative study interrogates the Ontario College of Teachers' "Guidelines for Principal Qualification Programs," through the corrective lens of the ideas of the studies' participants, and social justice directed approaches to educational leadership. Data was generated for this thesis through seven interviews with a broad range of stakeholders in public education, including high profile educationists in Ontario. This thesis argues that the OCT guidelines are essentially a blue print for implementing and managing neoliberal government educational reform objectives. I have concluded with an articulation of some implications for the preparation of principals, who I argue must be prepared to lead from and the margins, for the attainment of social justice.
Elevated exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) in non-asthmatic atopic adults

Nitric oxide in exhaled air has been proposed as a potential marker of inflammation in the lower airways. Several recent studies have demonstrated that the concentration of exhaled levels of lower airway nitric oxide (ENO) are elevated in asthma, a lung disorder characterized by chronic airway inflammation 13, 42. There also appears to be a weak relationship between atopy or the predisposition to develop IgE antibodies when exposed to foreign substances, and elevated lower airway ENO. We measured ENO levels in asymptomatic non-asthmatic atopic individuals and found that levels were significantly elevated when compared to non-atopic healthy individuals. For those atopic individuals sensitized to seasonally variable pollens, we measured ENO levels in and out of the respective pollen seasons. We found there was no significant difference in the ENO levels between out-of-season and during season in the absence of allergic exacerbation and symptoms. Lower airway inflammation may be present in atopic individuals without clinical symptoms of asthma. Therefore, ENO measurement may be able to identify sub-clinical inflammation and predict the risk for developing asthma in the future.
Screening of potential upstream regulators and identification of DNA binding sites for the tooth transcription factor Krox-26

Krox-26 is a novel 25.8 kDa protein comprising five C2H 2 zinc fingers. Previous temporo-spatial data from in-situ hybridization and Northern blot analyses suggest that the expression of Krox-26 mRNA coincides with that of Msx-1, BMP-2, BMP-4, FGF-4, and FGF-8 during early tooth development. To screen for Krox-26 regulatory molecules, semi-quantitative RT-PCR, Northern blot, and in-situ hybridization analyses were performed on Denial Papilla Mesenchymal cells, mouse E10.5 mandibles, and mouse E15 molar tooth germ cultures, treated with BMP-2, BMP-4, FGF-4, or FGF-8. Results from these analyses failed to show BMPs or FGFs regulation on Krox-26 mRNA expression in these systems. As a putative zinc finger transcription factor, Krox-26 is anticipated to bind specific DNA sequences through its zinc finger motifs. To identify a target DNA sequence for Krox-26, a recombinant 6xHis-tagged Krox-26 protein was expressed and purified for Target Detection Assay. The resulting Krox-26 target DNA sequence of 5'-cAATg-3' was identified.
Comic violence, from Commedia dell'arte to contemporary cinema

A comic view of violence involves a shift in moral view that requires an alleviation of concern or a temporary freedom from moral constraints. The semi-taboo nature of the moral action of comedic violence necessitates its moral coding. The joke or punch-line of a joke direct "Comic Violence: From 'Commedia dell'Arte' to Contemporary Cinema," Ph.D.s the audience toward a comic interpretation of the events before them, while the comic coding and/or comic world of the violent gag enables the violence to be interpreted or received with laughter. By examining the entirety of this detailing of reception codes we can see that the butts of comedic violence have travelled in focus from the easily removed, distanced other (ostracised by race, appearance and behaviour), to victims uncomfortably identified with the audience. This shift mirrors and activates to some extent the evolution of the genre from classic to parody to critique. However, despite these changes the abiding goal and mechanism of comedic violence remains the same. Violent comedy is a pressure-releasing game of moral chicanery. In comedic violence, particularly its more recent self-conscious manifestations, one can witness an audience probing, even searching, for limits and moral boundaries that receive group confirmation. Often this probing is searching for a shared (through laughter) denial of the stringency of societal morality. But with this probing there is the reassuring re-establishment of a more lenient but also more solid moral boundary. Thus comedic violence uses thresholds of humour to re-affirm social taboos. Self-reflexive commentary is most often achieved through the disruption of the moral game-playing of comedic violence. In a near reversal of the purpose and effects of comic coding, self-reflexive comedic violence effectively pulls the morally protective rug out from under the audience. This shocking removal of moral protection leaves the audience suddenly aware of the moral game-playing inherent in comedic violence and thus implicates their desires within the comic process. Self-reflexively violent comic films and plays support and effectively prove by their success the central tenet of this thesis--namely that for an audience, comedic violence is a comic release that is shrouded in moral deception, placation and dishonesty by the comedian.
Transcoding of MPEG-4 compressed video over error-prone channels

This thesis considers the performance of MPEG-4 compressed video over noisy channels. This is a design project that proposes a synchronization technique for improving the resilience of MPEG-4 video to transmission errors, without the addition of any extra redundancy into the bitstream. The errors on noisy transmission channels cause the loss of synchronization between encoder and decoder. The proposed scheme transcodes the MPEG-4 compressed video bitstream into an error resilient structure for transmission over noisy channels. The Resynchronization Markers, traditionally used in MPEG-4 for resynchronization are quite long and hence cause considerable overhead. Furthermore, in the event of a transmission error all the data between two consecutive Resynchronization markers needs to be discarded. The transcoding scheme proposed in this thesis avoids the use of these long Resynchronization Markers and instead achieves resynchronization with minimal overhead using a technique called Error Resilient Entropy Coding (EREC) that also provides enhanced resilience to transmission errors. The proposed scheme is standard compatible and can be implemented without any change in current codecs.
1 V, 1.9 GHz CMOS Mixers for Wireless Applications

This thesis deals with the design and implementation of 1 V 1.9 GHz mixers using CMOS technology for CDMA applications. The use of CMOS allows the implementation of the mixers on the same chip with the rest of the analog and digital circuits economically while achieving high performance. The mixers topologies explored are a dual-gate mixer and a back-gate mixer. The dual-gate mixer is designed in a 0.5 um SOI process and the back-gate mixer is designed in a 0.25 um standard bulk CMOS process. Equations describing the nonlinear behavior of the CMOS dual-gate mixer are derived. The analysis yields guidelines for improving third-order intermodulation distortion of the mixer. The dual-gate mixer exhibits 1.8 dB conversion gain, -0.8 dBm IIP3 and 9.8 dB noise figure at 1.9 GHz while operating from a 1 V supply with a power consumption of 3 mW and a die area of 1.44 mm2. The back-gate mixer utilizes the inherent lateral bipolar transistor in CMOS. Device simulations were performed to analyze the behavior of the lateral bipolar transistor and extract a model for it. The characteristic of the transistor were verified through measurements. The mixer circuit only draws 1.3 mW from a 1 V supply. The measurement shows a conversion gain of 6.5 dB an IIP3 of -3.5 dBm and a noise figure of 9.7 dB at 1.9 GHz. The chip area is 1.4 mm2.
Experts in the political arena, telecommunications policy in the United States

This thesis examines how experts operate in the political arena. To do so, it proceeds with a case study of American telecommunications policy at the federal level, focusing on the adoption of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The first set of research questions relates to the issue of recognition. How do experts become legitimate providers of policy advice? What are the criteria for selection? The second set of questions relates to the power of experts. Can expert proposals influence policymaking? Through which paths and mechanisms can their proposals be incorporated in the policy process? Two strategies available to experts to gain recognition are identified: professionalization and boundary-work. In the case study, professionalization is not sufficient to explain the competition between economists and lawyers to be recognized as the relevant source of advice on telecommunications policy. It is boundary work that allows economists to be recognized as the best source of advice in this field. Indeed, lawyers have a stronger professional position than economists, but economists are able to carve out a jurisdiction based on the notion of economic efficiency. This research also identifies what criteria are used by policymakers to select experts, by examining who was invited to appear at congressional hearings leading to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The main criteria are: (1) formal credentials (2) experience in federal agencies and (3) views supportive of policymakers' positions. This latter criterion highlights the role of legitimization played by experts in policymaking. Regarding the issue of influence, the case study confirms that expert advice rarely has a direct impact on the specific content of a new policy. The influence of economists is not on policy formulation; the primary erect is during the setting of the political agenda and even before. Economists changed the policy paradigm for the regulation of telecommunications. Their knowledge first gained pre-eminence within academia and then within government. Through various publications, conferences and meetings, experts in think tanks further diffused these ideas. This is how a new policy paradigm on telecommunications reached policymakers.
Reconstitution of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1)-mediated plasmid segregation in budding yeast requires human EBP2

Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) governs the stable segregation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) episomes in latently infected B-lymphocytes by mediating their attachment to the host metaphase chromosomes. The EBNA1 residues that mediate chromosome attachment and DNA segregation activity bind to the human EBP2 (hEBP2) protein, which is a component of the cellular metaphase chromosomes. To investigate the importance of hEBP2 for EBNA1-mediated DNA partitioning, I attempted to reconstitute the EBV-based segregation system in 'S. cerevisiae'. I found that stable segregation of a yeast replicating plasmid containing the EBV segregation element, FR, required both EBNA1 and hEBP2. An EBNA1 mutant that cannot bind hEBP2 failed to support segregation of the FR plasmid, indicating that an EBNA1-hEBP2 interaction is necessary. My results provide direct evidence that hEBP2 is required for EBNA1-mediated segregation and demonstrate that EBV-based segregation can occur in budding yeast.
An Action Research Study of Secondary Science Assessment Praxes

This practical participatory action research study illuminates the assessment praxes of four Ontario secondary level science teachers at one school using a facilitative approach. Participants were joined by a thematic concern, that is, a commitment to inform and improve assessment. Hence, two distinct sets of research questions emerged. The first involves the nature of assessment as we asked, what was the current state of assessment practice in secondary science? What were participants' initial understandings of assessment and actual practices at the onset of this research? To what extent did these initial understandings and actual practices change due to the illumination of assessment praxes through action research involvement? What was their level of awareness of current Ontario government pronouncements and in what ways did they implement this knowledge? The second theme, concerning the nature of action research, was realised by asking what did participants learn about action research? What other learning and professional gains were realised during this study? And, what did I learn about action research and assessment through my involvement in this study? Data were collected via supportive discussion groups, individual interviews, classroom visitations, journals and documentation. This professional development experience facilitated 'interactive professionalism' as teachers worked in a small group and interacted frequently in the course of planning, testing new ideas, attempting to solve different problems, and assess the effectiveness of those ideas. In addition, this action research effort was strategic and systematic, to attain a high degree of specific interactions, (personal interviews, group meetings, classroom observations, evidence collection). This series of deliberate and planned intentions helped participants solve assessment dilemmas. We developed an awareness and understanding of the need for more preservice and inservice assessment training. Participants realised the extent, and need to overcome their compartmentalisation, individualism and isolation. This reality was due to the design of their schedules, their school building and lack of common preparation times. Yet, in spite of the aforementioned, this inquiry supported and facilitated the transformation, improvement and enhanced understanding of assessment praxes. Participants learned how to professionally develop themselves using an action research mode of inquiry that supported teacher growth and development.
Surface modification of indium tin oxide for organic light-emitting diodes

Organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have attracted a wide spread interest due to their potential applications in multicolor flat panel displays. OLEDs are essentially one or several organic thin film semiconductors sandwiched between two electrodes. The charge carrier injection efficiency of OLEDs is affected by the energy barrier height at the interfaces between thin layers in the device. Indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as the anode for injection of holes into highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMO) of the organic semiconductors in OLEDs. This thesis deals mainly with surface modification of ITO. By surface modification, the work function of ITO could be increased, and hence the energy barrier between Fermi level of the anode and HOMO of the organic semiconductor is decreased. Accordingly, the drive voltage of OLEDs could be reduced. ITO surfaces were modified by oxygen, ammonia, and argon plasma respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been used to characterize these surfaces. A surface band-bending model is proposed based on the XPS information. This band model successfully explains the change in work function of ITO after plasma treatment. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) films deposited by ethylene plasma under various conditions were also studied in this thesis. The distribution of 'sp'3 and 'sp'2 bonding in these films was investigated using XPS and x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). The factors affecting the structure of the a-C:H films are discussed.
Steroid regulation of prostaglandin dehydrogenase in human fetal membranes and placenta in relation to the onset of parturition

Prostaglandins (PGs) produced by the fetal membranes and placenta play a crucial role in the onset and progression of labour and in maturation of the cervix at term and preterm in humans and other species. The general hypothesis is that expression and activity of type 1 nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent prostagland,n dehydrogenase (PGDH), the main catabolizing enzyme of PGs in human chorion and placenta, is critical in the regulation of bioactive PG levels at term and preterm and hence potentially important in the regulation of cervical effacement and parturition. In developing therapeutic drugs for the management of preterm labour it is imperative to know (a) what factors/steroids are involved in the regulation of PGDH and whether regulation is tissue specific and labour dependent, (b) how 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11ß-HSD) isozymes affect the quantity of steroids in the local environment and how this impacts on PGDH regulation, and (c) how these factors interact and their mechanism of action. To address these questions we cultured human term chorion and placental trophoblast cells with various steroid treatments and measured 'in vitro' PGDH activity and mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) expression by radioimmunoassay (RIA) of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF2Ã (PGFM), 'in situ' hybridization and northern blotting analysis. Basal output of PGFM was lower in chorion or placenta collected at spontaneous labour than at elective cesarean section. Glucocorticoids significantly inhibited PGDH activity and mRNA levels in a dose-dependent manner in both chorion and placental trophoblast cells. Responses were similar between tissues for labouring and non-labouring women. PGDH activity was increased by synthetic progestins, R5020 and medroxyprogesterone acetate (IMPA), and inhibited by progestin antagonists, RU486 (mifepristone) and onapristone, or by inhibition of progesterone synthesis with trilostane. Cortisol inhibition and progesterone stimulation appeared to be mediated via the glucocorticold receptor (GR) in both chorion and placenta. Tissue specific expression of 11ß-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase isoforms in chorion and placenta altered local cortisol concentrations which also affected PGDH activity. The increase in intrauterine PG levels at term or preterm may be due to a functional withdrawal by cortisol of progesterone acting via the GR to maintain PGDH activity/mRNA levels.
Fixing the agenda, the struggle for women's equality, holistic politics and transformative practice in Toronto's urban renewal movement

This study examines women's experience, holistic politics and transformative practice in Toronto's sustainable transportation movement, a sub-section of the broader urban renewal and environmental movements. Sources for this study include reflection on the researcher's own experience within the movement as well as formal, open-ended interviews with women practitioners/activists in the movement. The research shows that women's participation and the question of who has power to set priorities and receive recognition for their work, are significant issues and impact upon both the political culture and the overall political effectiveness of the movement. Women's claims for equality, recognition, respect and status are, in fact, an intrinsic part of building a more effective and holistic politics for the sustainable transportation movement. The findings of this study also may have relevance beyond the sustainable transportation movement to other environmental, community and neighbourhood groups as well.
The role of caspase-3 in regulating neurotrophic and NMDA-dependent PCD in the mammalian CNS in vivo

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a major feature of the developing nervous system and plays an important role in mediating neuronal loss following neural trauma. Previous studies using genetic knockouts of caspase family members have suggested that these proteases play an important role in regulating both of these forms of PCD in mammals. In the present study, I have examined the role of caspase-3 in regulating injury-induced PCD in neurons of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG), facial nucleus, lumbar spinal cord and cerebellum ' in vivo'. The results indicate that caspase-3 plays a non-redundant role in regulating PCD in the SCG and cerebellum but not motor neurons ' in vivo'. Taken together, these data demonstrate that caspase-3 regulates neuronal PCD 'in vivo' in a temporal and cell-type specific manner.