VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Deploying discourses of employability and domesticity, women's employment and training policies and the formation of the Canadian welfare state, 1935-1947

The period 1935 to 1947 provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the ways in which the employment and training policies of Canadian welfare state forms delineated the boundaries of gender, race, class and nation in ways that actively constituted (il)legitimate social and economic forms of work, of motherhood, of sexuality and citizenship. Covering attempts starting in the Depression and accelerating during the Second World War into the postwar period, this study tracks the constitution and deployment of government attempts at mapping the female labour supply, of monitoring the activities of women in the labour market, of charting and opening up to scrutiny the conditions of women's labour force attachment: all in an effort to predict and prescribe patterns of women's employment and problems of female unemployment. I approach government reports, studies, commissions and committees as policy events--exercises in governance--as markers for policy analysis which signified important shifts in governmental approaches to the phenomenon of female participation in the formal waged economy. Viewed during the war as a crucial national resource, central to the war effort, women war workers would be cast as a largely 'unskilled female labour reserve' by war's end. I examine how ideas about mental testing, intelligence and human capacities--ideas that comprised the foundation of the mental hygiene programme during this period--informed employment and training policies in the formation of the Canadian welfare state for the period 1935-1947. During the Depression, studies of the labour force produced classifications of unemployed women and men. Scrutiny of female employment patterns resulted in the production of categorical knowledges about employability. These practices were further elaborated through the unprecedented research opportunities presented by the war. Suitable vocation, aptitude, and measures of intelligence: these concepts were drawn upon as part of a growing apparatus of employment policy intended to facilitate the smooth transition into the postwar period. I argue that the roster of policies and programmes devised in the name of postwar rehabilitation constituted ideas about female employability which were deeply imbued with the principles of scientific racism and sexism at the core of the mental hygiene program. Vocational planning, counselling and training practices reorganised relations of employment and of unemployment in ways that reflected the managing principles of the risk society. Postwar planning drew upon and constituted new areas of activity for government and community agencies, creating opportunities for the deployment of knowledge-practices such as personnel selection while opening up the interior of the subject as an object of governance, by assessing and calibrating allegedly innate human capacities.
Physicochemical characterization of multistranded DNA assemblies, DNA frayed wires

Physicochemical methods have been employed to characterise multistranded DNA assemblies--DNA frayed wires. Frayed wires arise from self-association of oligodeoxyribonucleotides with long terminal runs of consecutive guanines, e.g. d(A15G15). Intermolecular guanine-guanine interactions lead to the formation of high molecular weight complexes comprised of several strands of parent oligonucleotide. There are two distinct conformational domains in the frayed wire. Self-complexed guanines form a guanine stem located in the core of frayed wires. Non-guanine portions of the parent oligonucleotides remain single-stranded and are displaced from the stem. We refer to this part of the molecule as single stranded arms. Spectroscopic and gel electrophoretic studies showed that hybridization of short strands complementary to the arms does not interfere with the stem of frayed wires. And conversely, the stem does not affect stability of the duplex formed within the arms. The melting of this duplex proceeds at the same temperature as the melting of the short duplex in the solution. The single stranded arms of frayed wires affect their electrophoretic migration resulting in lower mobilities than those for double stranded DNA of comparable molecular weight We explored the propensity of oligonucleotides with different sequences and compositions to oligomerize into DNA frayed wires. Parent oligonucleotides with runs of 10 or more guanines at either 3' or 5 ' terminus give rise to high molecular weight complexes. The presence of the guanine base at the very terminus of the parent strand is crucial for its ability to polymerise. Neither the arm length nor the arm sequence affect self-association. However, the arms are important for the solubility of frayed wires. Aggregates arising from oligonucleotides with very short arms are prone to lateral association giving rise to very large aggregates which readily precipitate. We identified two environmental factors important for the self-assembly of DNA frayed wires. The presence of a divalent cation is essential for polymerisation of the parent strands into high molecular weight complexes. Incubations in the presence of monovalent cations result in a limited aggregation leading to formation of species consisting of 2 to 6 parent strands. The rate and the extent of polymerisation are strongly favoured by elevated temperature consistent with the positive activation energy for the reaction of DNA frayed wire formation. This behaviour is atypical for the nucleic acid folding and may indicate the presence of a secondary conformation within the stem or the arm region precluding the polymerisation at low temperatures. Upon heat denaturation of this secondary structure self-association of the parent strands proceeds.
The roles of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the mouse brain

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut-brain hormone synthesized by peptidergic cleavage of proglucagon in the pancreatic A cells and the L cells of the ileal mucosa. GLP-1 is involved in the regulation of pancreatic and gastric functions, stimulating insulin secretion and inhibiting gastric secretion, respectively. Although GLP-1 has been postulated to regulate food intake, mice with targeted disruption of the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R $-$/$-$ mice) exhibit normal body weights, suggesting that GLP-1 is not an exclusive determinant of the central mechanisms controlling appetite. The objective of this thesis was to further explore potential central sites of GLP-1 action by mapping the distribution of its receptors in the mouse brain as well as by studying the endocrine consequences of the loss of GLP-1 receptor mediated responses, in the GLP-1R $-$/$-$ mouse. Quantitative autoradiography demonstrates extensive distribution of GLP-1 receptors in the diencephalon and in the limbic system, suggesting that rather than specifically regulating appetite, GLP-1 may in fact play a role in a number of neuronal systems that influence neuroendocrine function and behavior. In studying GLP-1R $-$/$-$ mice from birth to adulthood, we found that while they appear phenotypically similar from the control wildtype mice (GLP-1R +/+), their reproductive development is subtly impaired. In addition, loss of GLP-1 signaling results in slight deficits in their stress responses. Responses to mild stress are subnormal, although responses to severe stress remain intact in GLP-1R $-$/$-$ animals. These data suggest that GLP-1 may play a subtle modulatory role in the CNS in regulating neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in regulating reproductive function and the control of adrenal function, in addition to its postulated involvement in the regulation of food intake.
Induction of c-fos and activation of parallel MAPK cascades by cadmium

Cadmium is an toxic metal that can initiate either mitogenesis or apoptosis in different cell lines, probably as a consequence of inducing different patterns of proto-oncogene expression. Previous work in our lab has found that Cd 2+ can stimulate an increase in c-'fos' mRNA level in quiescent mesangial cells. Induction of c-'fos' via one of its regulatory elements SRE can be mediated by at least two major signaling systems, the CaMK pathway and the MAPK cascades. It has been confirmed by the previous study in our lab that the CaMK pathway is not involved in c-' fos' induction by Cd2+. Therefore, we further investigated the involvement of the MAPK cascades. We found that Cd2+ caused activation of both ERK and SAPK, and the time courses of ERK activity, SAPK activity, and c-'fos' mRNA level showed a similar biphasic pattern in response to 10 [mu]M Cd2+ with an initial increase at 15-30 min and a larger prolonged increase at 8 h. Each of these three signals also showed a similar concentration dependence, different concentrations of Cd2+ tested between 0.1 to 10 [mu]M causing the similar initial increases but values above 3 [mu]M required for the prolonged activation. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Courtly psychosis, the rhetoric of preferment in the court masque

The purpose of this thesis is to supply modern readers and spectators with an understanding of the court masque. My aim is not to "arrive at a definition and close a book," but "to arrive at an experience" of the court masque (Ciardi 316). Past definitions of the court masque need to be re-examined: existing definitions are only partially helpful in making spectators of the masque "understanders" in the Jonsonian sense of the word. New corroborative evidence, and research such as W. R. Streitberger's into the accounts of court records, demonstrate that existing notions of the masque are incomplete. The relationship between the genre and festival celebrations, and certain entrenched historical views that speak to the provenance and substance of the court masque, in particular need revisiting. In addition, new insights into the internal dynamics of the masque form can be found in the work of Kenneth Burke. This thesis will undertake an approach to the court masque based on the twin pillars of Streitberger's research on the revels and Burkean rhetorical theory. The first two chapters provide an introduction to the main clusters of masque criticism, some examples of earlier masques, and a brief description of Burke's courtship paradigm. The final three chapters consider the application of Burke's courtship theory to the court masques of three prominent authors, Philip Sidney, William Shakespeare, and Ben Jonson.
Role of voltage-gated potassium channels in mediating posttraumatic axonal dysfunction after acute and chronic spinal cord injury

'Introduction'. Dysfunction of surviving axons which traverse the site of spinal cord injury (SCI) appears to contribute to posttraumatic neurological deficits although the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, mechanisms of axonal dysfunction involving changes in K+ channel activity after SCI were examined during the acute and chronic phases of injury. 'Methods'. Microelectrode and sucrose gap recordings were performed. K+ channel blockers (4-aminopyridine (4-AP), Ã-dendrotoxin (Ã-DTX) tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) and CsCl) were used to examine dysfunctional conduction properties and altered K+ channel pharmacological sensitivity of acutely and chronically injured dorsal column axons. Histological and ultrastructural examination of spinal cord nerve fibers were performed to provide a rational hypothesis for dysfunctional conduction properties after SCI. Changes in Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 K+ channel expression after SCI were examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. 'Results'. Acutely injured axons displayed a variety of dysfunctional conduction properties including: a decrease in the compound action potential (CAP) amplitude, a reduced conduction velocity, an increase in the refractory period and high frequency conduction failure. Acutely injured axons showed evidence of condensation and dissolution of the axoplasm, periaxonal swelling, and fragmentation and splaying of the myelin. With acute SCI there was dispersed staining of both Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 proteins along injured axons. Both 4-AP and Ã-DTX caused a significant enhancement of the CAP amplitude of acutely injured axons. Chronically injured dorsal columns displayed dysfunctional conduction with a reduction in CAP response amplitude, a reduced population conduction velocity, an increase in the threshold of activation, an increase in the refractory period and high frequency conduction failure. 4-AP and Ã-DTX resulted in a significant relative increase in the amplitude and area of CAPs recorded from chronically injured dorsal column axons. Histological examination revealed significantly reduced myelin sheath thickness of axons in all tracts after SCI. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry showed increased expression and dispersed distribution of Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 on spinal cord axons following injury. 'Conclusions'. These findings suggest a novel mechanism of axonal dysfunction after acute and chronic SCI whereby an increased 4-AP and Ã-DTX sensitive K+ conductance mediated, in part, by altered Kv1.1 and Kv1.2 K+ channel expression contributes to abnormal axonal physiology in surviving axons.
Screening model for advanced real time control (SMARTC)

The objective of Real Time Control (RTC) in urban drainage systems is to reduce the volume and number of overflows into the receiving water, by utilizing the existing storage within a system more efficiently. Both the potential and the limitations of RTC are site specific, and depend on catchment characteristics, sewer system configuration and loading variability. Successful implementation of RTC has the potential to save millions of dollars on infrastructure upgrades such as sewer separation or underground storage tanks. Thus, a planning level methodology for the assessment of RTC potential in urban catchments is acutely needed. A screening level model for evaluating RTC potential of urban drainage systems is developed in this thesis. The model addresses the deficiencies of the existing models, since it is a continuous simulation approach utilizing a global operating strategy for a controlled system. The components of the model are rainfall, runoff and control modules.
Hankel operators and generalizations

In this thesis, we investigate several properties of bounded Hankel operators in Hilbert space and study some operators which generalize Hankel operators. We prove that a bounded Toeplitz operator 'T' commutes with a Hankel operator 'Hz[variable phi]' if and only if ' T' = 'T'[variable phi] and [variable phi] is an affine function of the characteristic function of an "anti-symmetric" set of the unit circle. We also give a partial classification of algebraic Hankel operators, and some results on the reflexivity and transitivity of ultraweakly closed spaces of Hankel operators. Given a complex number [lambda], we introduce the class of [lambda]-Hankel operators as those that satisfy the operator equation 'S'*' X' - 'XS' = [lambda]'X', where ' S' is the unilateral forward shift. We investigate several properties of [lambda]-Hanker operators. In particular, we provide a sufficient condition for the compactness of a [lambda]-Hankel operator and a condition which is necessary for the boundedness of a [lambda]-Hankel operator. We also show that positivity of a [lambda]-Hankel operator is equivalent to a moment problem, whose solution gives necessary and sufficient conditions for boundedness of the operator. We also solve some other operator equations that involve the unilateral forward shift. We prove that certain spaces of non-invertible operators have the property that every compact subset of the complex plane containing zero is the spectrum of an operator in the space; the space of Hankel operators is of this kind, as is the space of [lambda]-Hankel operators for [lambda] purely imaginary. To finish, we study a generalization of Hankel operators to the Calkin algebra. We investigate some of the properties of this set, show that it is not an algebra and show that it is not the set consisting of compact perturbations of the set of Hankel operators.
Rank-one group actions with simple mixing Z subactions

Let 'G' be a countable commutative group with subgroup <math> <f> <blkbd>Z<sup><mit>d</mit></sup></blkbd></f> </math>, such that <math> <f> G/<blkbd>Z<sup><mit>d</mit></sup></blkbd></f> </math> is a locally finite group. We construct an action of 'G' so that the transformation corresponding to (1,0,0, ... ,0) in <math> <f> <blkbd>Z<sup><mit>d</mit></sup></blkbd></f> </math> is mixing, simple, and commutes only with the other transformations in the action. The construction is a rank-one action of the group ' G' with respect to a specific Følner sequence. This general construction allows us to exhibit many interesting examples. King asked if there exists a transformation with square roots of all orders and yet has no infinite chain of square roots. We can answer that question affirmatively using our construction and a specific group called the ' root group'. We give a new proof of an old theorem of Akcoglu and Baxter on constructing transformations with a certain set of roots. In addition, we can construct other examples including mixing transformations with centralizer isomorphic to <math> <f> <blkbd>Q</blkbd></f> </math> or <math> <f> <blkbd>Z<sup><mit>d</mit></sup></blkbd></f> </math>, and a simple map with no prime factors. del Junco's construction for the last example inspired this work.
An experimental investigation into chemical additive effects on ignition delay of methane injected into air

Experiments were performed to investigate if possible synergy exists between two additives introduced to methane that would result in a shorter ignition delay than that for natural gas or methane containing only one additive. Testing was conducted in both a compression-ignition engine and a combustion bomb that afford optical access into the combustion chamber. Initial engine tests showed the importance of minimizing the injector sac volume of injectors for gaseous fuels. In combustion bomb tests with no power supplied to the glowplug, the methane mixtures reduced the ignition delay value by a factor of three compared to natural gas. Even with the additives, however, the ignition delay times achieved under the conditions tested are too long for practical use in an engine (<2 ms). For the two lower glowplug temperatures used (1350 and 1375 K), practical ignition delays can only be achieved at the highest intake system pressure tested. At the highest glowplug temperature, additives in the methane can provide significant reductions (20-30%) in injection delay times. The substantial sensitivity to operating conditions displayed by the results is indicative of the underlying complexity of the processes involved. Additional investigation will be required to fully understand the ignition processes.
Antioxidant and pro-oxidant nature of catecholamines

This study compares the antioxidant versus pro-oxidant potential of catecholamines. Firstly, catecholamines scavenged superoxide, and also prevented hypoxia-reoxygenation injury. The ferric complexes of catecholamines were much more effective and cytoprotective. This could prove useful in stroke therapy. Secondly, catecholamines were shown to mediate the oxidation of ascorbate and NADH, which was directly related to their o-quinone half-life. Glutathione prevented NADH oxidation, and glutathione-conjugates were formed, indicating that o-quinones were the metabolites responsible for the oxidation. Lastly, dopamine cytotoxicity was potentiated by catalytic manganese(II) concentrations which resulted in toxic dopamine o-quinone formation, offering insight into the Parkinson's-like disorder found in manganese miners. Dopamine was metabolized by hepatocyte P450 peroxygenase to a cytotoxic product (possibly dopamine o-quinone), utilizing H2O2 formed by monoamine oxidase, and possibly relevant to idiopathic Parkinson's disease. In conclusion, the balance of catecholamines as anti- or pro-oxidant will depend on dose and ambient cellular conditions.
Androgen receptor associated-protein 70 (ARA70) expression in breast cancer, possible relationship with her2/neu overexpression

Androgens have been postulated to have a protective effect in breast cancer and expression of androgen receptors (AR) is considered a favorable prognostic indicator. AR associated protein-70 (ARA70), a putative coactivator with a predilection for the AR, can enhance the transcriptional action of the AR up to 10-fold. Overexpression of the 'her'2/' neu' proto-oncogene also amplifies AR action in transfected prostate cancer cells. To determine if ARA70, AR, and 'her'2/' neu' expression is associated in breast cancer, AR and ARA70 protein was examined in 41 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma. To execute this study, a polyclonal antibody to ARA70 was produced and validated. Immunohistochemistry indicated that ARA70 is expressed in normal breast epithelium and that this expression is diminished or lost in 46.3% of the tumors with a trend toward a greater loss in erbB-2 positive tumors. Western blot analyses also raise the possibility that ARA70 isoforms may be expressed in the cancer cells.