VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Mechanically induced residual stresses, modelling and characterisation

Accurate characterisation of residual stress represents a major challenge to the engineering community. This is because it is difficult to validate the measurement and the accuracy is doubtful. It is with this in mind that the current research program concerning the characterisation of mechanically induced residual stresses was undertaken. Specifically, the cold expansion of fastener holes and the shot peening treatment of aerospace alloys, aluminium 7075 and titanium Ti-6Al-4V, are considered. The objective of this study is to characterise residual stresses resulting from cold working using three powerful techniques. These are: (i) theoretical using three dimensional non-linear finite element modelling, (ii) semi-destructive using a modified incremental hole drilling technique and (iii) nondestructive using a newly developed guided wave method supplemented by traditional C-scan measurements. The three dimensional finite element results of both simultaneous and sequential cold expansion of two fastener holes revealed the importance of the separation distance, the expansion level and the loading history upon the development and growth of the plastic zone and unloading residual stresses. It further showed that the commonly adopted two dimensional finite element models are inaccurate and incapable of predicting these residual stresses. Similarly, the dynamic elasto-plastic finite element studies of shot peening showed that the depth of the compressed layer, surface and sub-surface residual stresses are significantly influenced by the shot characteristics. Furthermore, the results reveal that the separation distance between two simultaneously impacting shots governs the plastic zone development and its growth. In the semi-destructive incremental hole drilling technique, the accuracy of the newly developed calibration coefficients and measurement techniques were verified with a known stress field and the method was used to measure peening residual stresses. Unlike traditional ultrasonic techniques, the newly proposed leaky Lamb wave method is sensitive to sub-surface and in-depth acousto-elastic changes, making it suitable for the measurement of depth dependent residual stresses. A newly designed, commissioned and automated leaky Lamb wave test facility was used to acquire the frequency response of multi-layered systems and successfully applied to characterise shot peened components.
Influence of menstrual cycle phase on the efficacy of carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged exercise in trained females

'Purpose'. To establish the effects of menstrual cycle phase on the efficacy of CHO ingestion during prolonged exercise in trained females. 'Methods'. Six female triathletes completed four exercise trials in a double blind randomized crossover design study. Two trials were completed in each of the follicular (F) and luteal (L) phases, one under each supplement condition; 6% CHO (C) and placebo (P). Subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer at a workrate of ~72.5% V¤O2peak for 1-hr, at which point the workrate was increased to ~82.5% V¤O2peak and the subject exercised to fatigue (FT). Drink supplements were given at rest (5 ml kgBW-1) and every 15-min (3 ml kgBW -1) for the first hour of exercise. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), body core temperature (Tre), glucose (GLUC), lactate (LA), insulin (INS), C-peptide (CP), glycerol (GLY), and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured every 15-min and at FT. 'Results'. There was a significant (p <= .05) phase effect in GLY and Tre, drink effect in GLUC and CP, and phase x drink effect in GLY and LA. There were no significant differences in RER, HR, RPE or FT across experimental conditions. 'Conclusions'. These data suggest that there is no phase effect on the efficacy of carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged exercise in trained females. In addition, these findings contrast what has been observed in male athletes, as there was no increase in performance, as measured by fatigue time, amongst the four conditions.
Expression and characterization of the extracellular amino-terminal domain of the mGluR4 subtype metabotropic glutamate receptor

The mGluR4 subtype metabotropic glutamate receptor is a presynaptic receptor that modulates neurotransmitter release. We hypothesized that expressing the extracellular amino terminal domain (ATD) of mGluR4 would produce a soluble protein that retains the pharmacological characteristics of mGluR4. In this study, I expressed and characterized 4 truncated versions of mGluR4. A receptor terminated 39 amino acids upstream of the first putative transmembrane domain (TMD) was secreted into the culture media of transfected human embryonic kidney cells. The rank order of potency of metabotropic ligands at this receptor was similar to that of the full-length receptor. Receptors truncated at the carboxyl-terminus of the ATD and 98 or 174 amino acids upstream from the first TMD all failed to be secreted from the cells and to bind the radioligand. The truncated mGluR4 and the equivalent mGluR8 were expressed in 'Escherichia coli' and insect cells. Both systems produced immuno-reactive recombinant receptors that failed to display ligand binding activity. Together, these results demonstrate that all of the LIVBP homology region and part of the cysteine-rich region are required for optimal secretion in a soluble form that retains binding activity. The successful expression of a soluble truncated mGluR4 receptor produced a useful substrate for the crystallization of the mGluR4 ligand binding domain, and may provide information for the design of subtype specific ligands for mGluRs.
The effect of oxygenated additives on soot precursor formation

A counter-flow propane/air diffusion flame ([straight phi] = 1.79) is used for a fundamental analysis of the effects of oxygenated additives on soot precursor formation. Experiments are conducted at atmospheric pressure using a quartz micro-probe for sampling and Gas Chromatography for gas sample analysis. C1-C6 species have been identified and measured. The oxygenated additives dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethanol are added to the fuel stream keeping the total volumetric flow rate constant Results show 10 vol% DMC significantly reduces acetylene, benzene and other flame pyrolysis products. Ethanol addition (10 vol%) shows instead more modest reductions. Peak acetylene and benzene levels decrease as the additive dosage increases for both ethanol and DMC. The additive's effect on adiabatic flame temperature and fuel stream carbon content does not correlate significantly with acetylene levels. However, there does appear to be a linear relationship between oxygen content and acetylene concentrations as well as C-C content and acetylene concentrations.
Moral sense and objective interests, facing the problem of false consciousness

The purpose of this thesis is to defend the philosophical grounds of the claim that we have interests--even fundamental interests--about which we may err in a systematic and pernicious, yet avoidable manner, thanks to ever more predominant social delusions. Against those who have declared it dead, the thesis calls for a revitalization of the critical or pejorative sense of 'ideology'. It aims to make sense of the core hypothesis of the Frankfurt School's theory of ideology: in oppressive societies, those who control the bulk of economic resources wield the most powerful influence over the collective imagination of its citizens. Whatever their origin, the persistent occurrence of our errors about interests--mistakes about the way the world is, about what kinds of things are valuable for us or what kinds of pursuits we ought to have, or about what we have it in our means to pursue--is explained by the functional role they play in maintaining what would, were it not for those errors, be recognized as oppressive social, economic, and political institutions. I argue that only an objective theory of interests his the power to address the most insidious form of false consciousness, what I call the problem of Missing Interests--where an individual mistakes her fundamental aims, because ideological delusion deeply informs her sense of herself, her self-identity. Dismissing the worry that we run the risk of committing rampant atrocities in the name of the value judgments that underlie theories of objective interests, I argue that we blind ourselves to assaults on autonomy already committed if we eschew the power only an objective account of interests has to describe individuals as wronged in being deprived of truer selves. We can make good sense of this by looking back to the ancient view in which rationality and virtue are intimately related.
Writing on the Father's Tomb: Hysteria and the Father-Daughter Relationship in Contemporary French Women's Writing

This thesis is a study of the father-daughter relationship and how it is bound to the issue of feminine subjectivity and writing. The main aim of the study is to examine the complexities of the father-daughter relationship in order to demonstrate how it is represented in certain contemporary women writer's work as a means of dissenting from the organization of sexual difference, as a means of questioning the paternal function. Through close textual analysis of selected works by Hélène Cixous, Marie Redonnet and Annie Ernaux, the dissertation examines how the paternal figure is implicated in the daughter/heroine's coming of age as a woman in their texts. The textual analyses concentrate on how a hysteric structure is staged in each writer's work, a structure that is read as the articulation of dissent from woman's place in the social order. The work begins with an introduction to the problem and to the key psychoanalytical concepts that will be used. In Chapter 2, Hélène Cixous's ' Dedans' (1969) and 'Or: les lettres de mon père' (1997) are studied. Cixous's work presents the father as the ultimate object of desire and stages the relationship to the father as the basis for her writing. Chapter 3 takes up the work of Annie Ernaux, concentrating on 'La Place '(1983) and 'La Honte' (1997), where a portrait of the father as a humiliated figure is developed. The attachment and identification with the father are analyzed to show how the hysteric structure supports the author's critique of gender and class. A discussion of Marie Redonnet's trilogy--' Splendid Hôtel' (1986), 'Forever Valley' (1987), and 'Rose, Mélie, Rose' (1987)--constitutes the fourth chapter. The three heroines' attempts at creating a work of sublimation are progressively investigated while regarding the role of the father. The textual analyses trace out each author's problematizing of women's subjectivity and discuss how the question of writing as a woman is addressed in the works.
The effects of collared pika grazing on alpine tundra vegetation in southwestern Yukon, Canada

In alpine tundra vegetation, rates of plant production were as low in 15-17 day short-term 'in situ' pika removal exclosures as they were in control, unexclosed plots. After nearly two seasons of herbivore exclusion, sites with a history of grazing had much higher production than sites with no history of grazing, demonstrating an important influence of past grazing pressures. I also found that the pattern of pika grazing influence changed between two disjunct field sites separated by 40km: pikas had a detectable impact up to 7 m from talus in one site, but only up to 2 m in the other. When the effect of grazing on leaf demography for three species was examined, grazing history, rather than current season grazing, was found to affect growth traits. In a common garden experiment, grazing history affected plant response to simulated pika herbivory in a sedge but not in a composite. In all three experiments, grazing history was found to have a profound and very important impact on plant growth.
Rigid and pliant movement analysis, use of invasive and external observations to determine tibial and femoral motion during gait

Six Degree of Freedom (DOF) Rigid Body modeling techniques currently represent the state of the art in human movement analysis. Such measures can be obtained directly through the use of bone-mounted marker clusters, called Rigid Invasive modeling (RI), or indirectly through the use of external data: marker-laden Rigid Objects (RO) are attached to individual body segments; or marker clusters placed upon the skin's surface are modeled as Rigid Surfaces (RS). Noninvasive techniques are most commonly used, however, they suffer from one critical limitation: they assume body segment rigidity. To incorporate the pliant characteristics of the human body's soft tissues (scaling and shearing), a novel Pliant Surface (PS) method was created. Based originally on RS, this method produces 12 DOF time-series analyses that include simultaneous quantification of each body segments "rigid" and "pliant" motions. To validate PS and compare its performance to the Rigid techniques, invasive human gait experiments were performed. Bone pins were surgically inserted into the femur and tibia of 3 volunteers. Lightweight active infra-red marker (IRED) clusters were attached rigidly to the pins. For the Surface models (PS and RS), IREDs were placed directly upon the thigh and leg. For the RO model, these individual markers were replaced with IRED-laden objects. Simultaneous IRED motion was recorded whilst each of the subjects completed 3 trials of self-selected cadence on a treadmill. RI data defined the Gold Standard bone motion. To rank the RO, RS and PS models, root mean square differences (relative to RI) were calculated and these were compared using chi-square tests of the paired variances (P < 0.01). In all trials, RO performed most poorly. No differences were found between PS and RS for the tibia (both 2.4° however PS provided superior motion estimates for both the femur (3.9° vs. 4.3°) and the tibiofemoral joint (4.7° vs. 5.2°). Particular PS advantages were shown for internal/external rotation and abduction/adduction. This was insightful given that these measures are typically the most difficult to accurately attain. Given the PS model's unique abilities, the thigh's measured surfaces were found to experience uniform repeatable changes in scaling: 40% mediolateral, 5% anterioposterior, 5% superioinferior, and planar shears of 25° transverse, 15° sagittal, 5° frontal. In comparison, the leg demonstrated much greater rigidity: <5% scaling and 5° shearing, excluding the brief moments following push-off. In conclusion, the novel Pliant Surface model provided superior estimates of bone motion (femur and tibiofemoral joint), whilst it simultaneously quantified body segment shape changes (leg and thigh). The latter data are of intrinsic importance to the PS model, but in the future such measures may indeed prove useful in numerous additional human movement applications.
Obstructed labour, race and gender in the re-emergence of midwifery in Ontario

Responding to the admonition of numerous scholars that contemporary social and political formations in the West must be viewed in relation to histories of colonialism and contemporary relations of neo-colonialism, this study undertakes a contrapuntal reading of the production of white First World women as acting political subjects through their material and discursive relationship to Third World women and immigrant women of colour. Focused on a very specific feminist initiative--the movement to revive the practice of midwifery in Ontario, Canada--this research untangles the paradox represented by the conspicuous under-representation, relative to the their numbers in the Ontario population, of immigrant midwives of colour in the ranks of the province's newly-legalized midwifery profession. Moving from an examination of (global) macroprocesses of power, to an explication of institutional forms of racist exclusion and concluding with an examination of microexpressions of racism, unequal relations between women are shown to underlie the successful challenge to patriarchal medical authority mounted by provincial midwifery activists. Through the examination of substantial empirical evidence, including state documents, movement publications, and data derived from forty-seven interviews with practising and non-practising midwives, this research traces how racist exclusion operated to construct the Ontario midwifery movement and the bureaucratic structures which superceded it, as normatively white spaces. The (re)production of racially exclusive spaces can be seen to result from both deliberate choices and seemingly-benign inertias, neither of which are necessarily linked to an intention to enact racism. Rather, it is argued, racist exclusion must be understood as unavoidable when race-blind epistemologies guide actions. The epistemological stance within which the Ontario midwifery initiative was locked dictated that women were oppressed in similar ways and that race and other critical dimensions of social identity only complicated a foundational gender oppression. Such a stance does not require that hierarchical relations among women be taken into account. This research illustrates that the failure to inquire after the differential impact of feminist political strategies on women positioned unequally in the social field dooms those seeking to address the "universal needs of women" to reproducing global and local structures of domination and subordination.
The status of total column ozone concentration over North America

Total column ozone concentration measured over North America has been statistically analyzed. Total column ozone has been decreasing over North America with strong spatial and temporal variations. There exist very significant latitudinal variations. Furthermore, the existence of temporal latitudinal variations in total column ozone concentration over the study area is established. High latitude stations demonstrate an increase in the trend of total ozone concentration for the period of 1975 to 1985, while midlatitude stations show the largest rate of total ozone reduction during this period. The rate of total ozone reduction increases during the period of 1985 to 1995 in high-latitudes, while midlatitude stations demonstrate a slight decrease in the rate of total ozone reduction. It was also found that quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and solar sunspot activity are the two major sources of long-term natural total column ozone variations over the study area. The effect of these mechanisms is more pronounced in high latitudes than elsewhere. Finally, it was determined that ozone data from the ground-based stations are representative of an area approximately 15° in radius.
Role of MHC molecules in HIV-1 vaccination

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most important genetic region identified to date in explaining differential host response to infectious diseases. Indeed for HIV-1 infections and AIDS, we believe MHC molecules play a significant role in the prevention and control of HIV-1. MHC proteins are known to be incorporated into the HIV-1 envelope as virions bud from the host cell surface. Studies using SIV infection of macaques have demonstrated the importance of these MHC proteins in providing protection against the virus. Thus, the induction of anti-MHC immune responses represents an important option to consider with respect to vaccine design for SIV and HIV. We examined the use of plasmid DNA immunization for the induction a xenogeneic and allogeneic immune responses in C57BL/6 mice and in an HLA transgenic mouse model system, respectively. Results indicated that plasmid DNA immunization with both class I and class 11 MHC-encoding vectors can elicit antibody responses recognizing conformationally intact MHC molecules. Immunization with class I MHC-encoding DNA immunogens can also elicit cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses. The observations we made from the mouse MHC immunization studies were taken one step closer to human applications by demonstrating that intradermal needle immunization of non-human primates (macaques) with plasmid DNA encoding MHCs can also safely elicit both xenogeneic and allogeneic anti-MHC antibody responses. This demonstration establishes the feasibility of using plasmid DNA at inducing anti-MHC immunity in humans for potential application as an anti-HIV-1 vaccination strategy. Lastly, MHC molecules were designed to be "coupled" to an HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) CTL epitope to enhance peptide presentation, and thus CTL induction. The incorporation of epitopes into the signal sequence of HLA-A2 or the tethering of epitopes to the N-terminus of the HLA-A2 heavy chain provide new alternatives to create effective CTL target structures that can be recognized and lysed by human HLA-A2-restricted RT-specific CD8 + CTLs. Moreover, primary epitope-specific CTLs can be generated ' in vitro' using stable transfectants expressing these constructs. Plasmid DNA-based vaccines encoding epitope-modified MHC molecules can potentially be used for the induction of CTL responses against HIV-1 epitopes, and also for the induction of anti-MHC immunity.
Crude federalism, oil politics and the evolution of intergovernmental relations in post-Soviet Russia

This dissertation explores the complicated interplay between the institutions of the Russian federal system, the policy making process and the dilemmas of legislative reform in the oil sector. Part one examines the problematic evolution of the 1995 federal Law on Production Sharing Agreements, a critical element in the reformist agenda. Part two looks at the legislative responses of Tatarstan and Khanty Mansiisk, two resource producing regions, to the production sharing issue and the broader questions of reform in the resource sector. In spite of the apparent benefits that production sharing holds for the crisis-ridden Russian economy, the passage of production sharing legislation has been fraught with problems and delays. Why has this happened? I argue that the operationalization of a production sharing regime has been impeded by a series of institutionally-based cleavages and other disfunctional elements within the Russian federal system. First, jurisdictional overlap and the lack of a mutually acceptable and structured system for resolving disputes have undermined intergovernmental and interregional cooperation in the resource sector. Second, asymmetries between the constituent members of the federation, coupled with the absence of an institutional framework for managing interregional relations, have disrupted the policy making process at the federal level and complicated the process of political and economic reform in the some of the key resource-producing regions. Third, the dominant position of the executive branch at both the federal and regional levels has hampered the legislative process by aggravating the long-standing interbranch conflict. The study draws on the vast theoretical and empirical resources available to students of comparative federalism and comparative politics to explain the structures and processes that characterize the Russian federal model in the post-Soviet period. In doing so, it enhances our understanding of the policy making process in this transitional state. The research also makes a significant contribution to the literature on politics and government in federal states by positioning the Russian Federation within a broader comparative context and introducing a number of concepts and ideas that are unique to the Russian federal system.