VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Studies of the Antineoplastic Activity of Verotoxin in Vitro and in Vivo

In this thesis, the use of verotoxin1 as a new approach to the management of certain human neoplasms and its mechanism of action in causing cell death is discussed. VT1 cytotoxicity was demonstrated on human cervical cancer, astrocytoma and ovarian tumor and multidrug resistant cell lines. Moreover, primary ovarian tumors, metastases and multidrug resistant tumor cells in particular, were found to contain elevated levels of Gb$\sb3,$ the receptor for VT, as compared with normal ovarian epithelia. Overlays of frozen tumor sections show the toxin binds selectively to tumour tissue and the lumen of invading blood vessels. Extensive binding of toxin was observed in angiogenic astrocytoma tumor sections which may represent an anti-angiogenic property of VT1. The second part of these studies concerned the mechanism of action of VT cytotoxicity in two cell systems: the induced VT1 hypersensitivity of human astrocytoma cell lines cultured in the presence of sodium butyrate, and the increased sensitivity of multiple drug resistant mutants as compared to parental ovarian carcinoma cells. In both cases, an alteration in the intracellular routing of the receptor-bound internalized toxin from the Golgi-lysosomal pathway to that of retrograde transport to the nuclear envelope occurred resulting in a significant increase in cell sensitivity to VT1. This change in intracellular routing may be due to sorting of Gb$\sb3$ isoforms, since retrograde nuclear targeting was found to correlate with the synthesis of Gb$\sb3$ containing shorter chain fatty acid species. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of a large protein targeting to the nucleus without a nuclear targeting signal. In less sensitive cells, toxin was targeted to components of the Golgi. These results indicate that intracellular routing can determine sensitivity to VT and that Gb$\sb3$ binding may provide an intracellular route from the cell surface to the nuclear membrane for Gb$\sb3$ binding proteins. Verotoxin defines a new signal transduction pathway for the rapid induction of Bcl-2 independent apoptosis in several human tumor cell lines. This pathway is most marked in multiple drug resistance and in activated endothelial cells which vascularize the tumor. The third part of these investigations was to study the anticancer effect of VT1 in mice xenografted with human astrocytoma tumors. Tumors injected with VT1 showed 100% regression without recurrence. Using the TUNEL assay, apoptosis was observed in the tumor. These experiments demonstrate the feasibility of using VT1 therapy to selectively induce apoptosis in human astrocytoma tumors.
Le signe trompeur, une étude du langage ambigu et mensonger dans quelques farces médiévales

Traditionnellement on considere les farces francaises des XVe et XVIe siecles comme de petits divertissements peu complexes. Certaines recherches recentes mettent a jour, pourtant, une mai trise dans la construction dramatique et une finesse rhetorique qui incitent a chercher d'autres temoignages de leur dimension intellectuelle. Le point de depart pour cette etude est le jeu verbal des farces, reconnu comme une des sources principales de leur comique. Par l'examen d'une selection de pieces ou le jeu verbal est fonde sur les potentialites trompeuses du langage (les equivoques et les mensonges), cette etude debouche sur une mise en lumiere de questions relatives au fonctionnement du langage. Ces questions portent non seulement sur le discours pratique, mais aussi sur le texte litteraire. Notre etude montre aussi que les dramaturges actualisent a leur facon un topos litteraire ou le jeu verbal est associe a la confrontation sociale: le personnage qui manie habilement les mots prend le dessus sur un autre de rang superieur. Nous retracons l'itineraire de ce topos dans une serie de textes qui inclut les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles, certains fabliaux, une "Erberie" probablement du XIIIe siecle, le Jeu de Robin et Marion, et Aucassin et Nicolette. Dans les farces de notre selection, la mise en oeuvre de ce topos permet l'evocation subtile de la condition du poete a l'epoque. Est revelee une conscience de soi chez le dramaturge, fier de son agilite intellectuelle et artistique, mais mecontent de son exclusion des spheres de pouvoir. Ce travail confirme et elargit ainsi la portee de la dimension intellectuelle a trouver dans les farces, dimension ouverte a un secteur averti du public.
Sinking Satellites and Tilting Disk Galaxies

I perform fully self-consistent disk+halo+satellite N-body simulations to investigate the dynamical interaction between a disk galaxy and an infalling satellite. In particular, I study the following three different dynamical responses of the disk to the infalling satellite: tilting, warping, and thickening, as well as the dynamical effects of the parent galaxy on the infalling satellite: orbital decay and tidal disruption. The model in this thesis is characterized with two cosmologically significant improvements. First, the satellite starts at a distance more than three times of the radius of the optical disk. This ensures a realistic interaction among the satellite, the disk, and the halo in the course of the satellite infall. Secondly, evolution of the structure and velocity ellipsoid of the disk due to internal heating is allowed. I study the commonly arising case of satellites having density profiles comparable to that of the parent galaxy in contrast to that of compact satellites considered in previous work. I find that a disk is mainly tilted rather than heated by infalling satellites. Satellites of 10%, 20%, and 30% of the disk mass tilt the disk by angles of $(2.9 \pm 0.3)\sp\circ,\ (6.3 \pm 0.1)\sp\circ$, and $(10.6 \pm 0.2)\sp\circ$, respectively. However, only 3.4%, 6.9%, and 11.1% of the orbital angular momentum is transferred to the parent galaxy. The kinetic energy associated with the vertical motion in the initial coordinate frame of the disk is increased by (6 $\pm$ 3)%, (26 $\pm$ 3)%, and (51 $\pm$ 5)%, respectively, whereas the corresponding thermal energy associated with the vertical random motion in the tilted coordinate frame is only increased by (4 $\pm$ 3)%, (6 $\pm$ 2)%, and (10 $\pm$ 2)%, respectively. I find that satellites are mainly accreted onto the parent halo. Satellites having up to 20% of the disk mass produce no observable thickening, whereas a satellite with 30% of the disk mass produces little observable thickening inside the half-mass radius of the disk but significant thickening beyond this radius. Hence, a high cosmological accretion rate and thin disks can coexist if most infalling satellites have density profiles comparable to that of the parent galaxy.
David Ricardo on public debt

This thesis sheds light on questions relating to Ricardo's analyses of resource allocation and economic growth, his methodological procedure, his involvement in theoretical and policy debates, and his purposes in participating in those debates. Chapter 2, "Public Debt and the Economics of David Ricardo," delineates the relationship between Ricardo's views on public debt and his economic analyses. Evidence is presented to support the 'Marshall-Hollander' interpretation of Ricardo's allocative analysis. In addition, it is demonstrated that Ricardo envisioned Britain as experiencing ongoing growth with wages above subsistence, supporting the 'New View' interpretation of his growth framework. Chapter 3, "Public Debt Policy and Public Extravagance: The Ricardo-Malthus Debate," considers Ricardo's opposition to public spending deriving from his low opinion of the likelihood of effective action in existing circumstances, which formed the basis for his political case in favour of public debt redemption. Malthus questioned the desirability of debt repayment, and the analytical dispute between the two men on this issue turned on disagreement about the practical applicability of the law of markets. This chapter suggests that Ricardo's unyielding stance as to its short-run applicability may have reflected a concern that to make public allowances of its inapplicability might be misconstrued as providing support for government spending. Chapter 4, "The Capital Levy Proposal: Implications for Ricardian Method," examines Ricardo's scheme for a one-time tax on British property to redeem its public debt. Although doubts as to adoption of the plan meant that Ricardo did not expend the effort to mount an effective campaign to promote the proposal, there is ample evidence that he devoted considerable thought to matters arising in connection with its implementation. The reputation of the proposal as poorly formulated with inadequate attention paid to practical details is demonstrated to be unwarranted. Chapter 5, "Ricardo on Public Debt: The Question of Motive," counters the argument that Ricardo may have taken into account his personal financial interests in formulating his capital levy proposal, showing that he was motivated to make policy recommendations with respect to debt redemption out of an abiding concern for fairness and the national interest.
Hippurate hydrolase gene of Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni TGH9011 possesses a single genomic copy of the N-benzoyl-amino-acid amidohydrolase (hippurate hydrolase) gene. The gene (hipO) was isolated on a recombinant plasmid (pHIP-O) which expressed hippurate hydrolysis activity in Escherichia coli. DNA hybridization detected no hipO gene sequences in either Campylobacter coli type strain, C. lari, C. upsaliensis, C. fetus or C. sputorum. Gene hipO from C. jejuni is 1,149 nucleotides in length, corresponding to a theoretical polypeptide of 383 amino-acid residues with an estimated M$\sb{\rm r}$ of 42,596. The residue frequency and codon usage pattern of hipO is typical for C. jejuni genes. The transcriptional start points for hipO were determined by primer extension analysis. Northern blot analysis detected RNA hybridizing species consistent with the transcriptional start points defined by primer extension. Maxicell analysis of plasmid encoded proteins yielded a polypeptide product of M$\sb{\rm r}$ 42,000 in agreement with the expected size of hippurate hydrolase. Gene hipO was mapped onto the physical map of C. jejuni. The gene was disrupted using a novel kanamycin resistance marker which includes a rare-cutting restriction enzyme site. This construct was introduced back into the C. jejuni chromosome to generate an isogenic hippurate hydrolase-negative mutant. Disruption of hipO was confirmed using phenotype analysis. By Southern hybridization of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis separated genomic DNA, the gene was localized more precisely on the chromosome. A glutathione-S-transferase-hippurate hydrolase gene fusion construct was developed. A purified partial hippurate hydrolase polypeptide was used for development of hippurate hydrolase specific antisera. Polyclonal antisera was used to verify that C. jejuni but not C. coli type strain, C. lari or C. upsaliensis produced a 42-kDa polypeptide product that corresponds to the hippurate hydrolase protein. Hippurate hydrolase-negative variants of C. jejuni were examined with respect to the presence of hippurate hydrolase gene sequences in the genome by Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain amplification of hippurate hydrolase gene sequences, the production of hippurate hydrolase specific mRNA, the production of hippurate hydrolase protein and the action of the enzyme.
Extrusion and orientation of higher molecular weight polyethylenes

The die design, lubrication, resin molecular weight and other processing conditions all interact to determine the eventual properties of extruded polyethylenes with molecular weight of 0.5 Mg mol$\sp{-1}$ to 6 Mg mol$\sp{-1}.$ The principal objective of this work was to develop an extrusion-orientation process. To fulfil this objective, it was necessary to extrude higher than conventional molecular weight polyethylene resins. This type of extrusion required the investigation of lubrication methodology and controlling the rate of deformation. Continuous screw extrusion, of these higher molecular weight resins, was carried out using conventional and controlled elongational velocity gradient dies. This work established that the elongational velocity gradient imposed upon the polymer melt must be maintained at a specified value to prevent melt fracture and to obtain the desired degree of chain orientation in the extrudate. The practical accomplishments of controlling the elongational velocity gradient and lubrication conditions were the development of a process to extrude ultra high molecular weight polyethylene at rates of 4 to 20 times that of commercial ram extrusion. Another achievement was a unified process to extrude oriented very high and ultra high molecular weight resins directly from the die. It was also possible to extrude ductile very high molecular weight polyethylene which could be drawn to elongation ratios of 10 to 200, depending upon the draw temperature.
The influence of organizational and environmental variables on the quality of worklife of operating room nurses

Changes continue to occur at a rapid pace in health care and organizational redesign is prevalent as hospitals attempt to decrease operating costs while continuing to serve the public. Quality of worklife is linked to job satisfaction and costs. How changes in health care affect the quality of worklife of the operating room nurse is a subject that has received little attention. This study examines the influence of environmental and organizational variables on the quality of worklife of operating room nurses. The setting was an urban teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Site observations were conducted and documents examined. An interview schedule was developed and tested on nonparticipant operating room nurses. Formal interviews were conducted with ten operating room nurses at the research site. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative techniques. Influences which were considered strong were those that were found both in the literature and the research findings. These consisted of: (1) teamwork, (2) locus of control, (3) organizational culture, (4) change, (5) multiskilled workers, and (6) collaborative decision-making. Influences which were suggested in the literature but unsubstantiated in this research were considered weak or negligible. These consisted of: (1) organizational structure, (2) leadership, and (3) organizational learning. Findings in this study indicated that organizational structure has no influence on the quality of worklife of operating room nurses. The dismantling of the nursing department under a program management structure may diminish the nurse's sense of unity as a department. However, this organizational structure and a perceived lack of leadership does not affect the quality of worklife of subjects in this study. Additionally, respondents in this study are not influenced by a perceived lack of organizational learning. Isolation and groupthink are present to some degree but appear to be in balance. This study has significance as it identifies the strong as well as the weak or negligible influences on the quality of worklife of operating room nurses. Measures can be taken to enhance the strong influences while consideration can be given to the weak or negligible influences. Improvements to the work environment may translate to happier staff and better patient care; all valuable contributions to health care.
The residual spectrum of (overline)GL(N), the borel case

Suppose F is a number field containing the group $\mu\sb{n}$ of all n-th roots of unity and that $-$1 is an n-th power. Suppose A is the ring of adeles over F and $\overline{G(\rm A)}$ is a metaplectic cover of $G({\rm A}) = GL(N,\rm A)$ by $\mu\sb{n}.$ Then $G(F)$ is isomorphic to a subgroup $G(F)$* of $\overline{G(\rm A)}.$ Denote by 3 $\left(\overline{G(\rm A)}\right)$ the center of $\overline{G(\rm A)}.$ Fix a unitary character $\chi$ of 3 $\left(\overline{G(\rm A)}\right)$ such that $\chi\vert\sb{3\left(\overline{G({\rm A})}\right)\cap G(F)\sp*} = 1$ and that $\chi\vert\sb{\mu\sb{n}}$ is a fixed embedding $\mu\sb{n}\to\doubc\sp\times.$ According to Langlands' theory of Eisenstein series, the decomposition of $L\sp2\ \left(GL(N,F)\sp*\\\overline{GL(N,{\rm A})}, \chi\right)$ can be understood in terms of the residual spectrum of Eisenstein series associated with cuspidal data on standard Levi subgroups $\overline{M}.$ This thesis shows that if M is the diagonal subgroup A, the residual spectrum is at the point$$\lambda = ((N - 1)/2n,\ (N - 3)/2n,\cdots, (1-N)/2n).$$The associated representations can be described as follows. For a unitary character $\pi$ of A$\sp{\times n}/F\sp{\times n}$ such that $\pi\sp{N} = \chi$ on A$\sp{\times n},$ denote$$\rho = \pi\vert\cdot\vert\sp{(N-1)/2n}\otimes \pi\vert\cdot\vert\sp{(N-3)/2n}\otimes\cdots\otimes \pi\vert\cdot\vert\sp{(1-N)/2n}$$which is a quasi-character of $\overline{A({\rm A})\sp{n}}.$ Extend $\rho$ by $\chi$ to a quasi-character of the group $\overline{A ({\rm A})\sp{n}}3\ \left(\overline{G({\rm A})}\right)\ A(F)\sp*,$ trivial on $A(F)\sp*.$ Then the Langlands quotient of the induced representation$${\rm Ind}{{\overline{G({\rm A})}}\over{A({\rm A})\sp{n}}}{\buildrel{\enspace\quad\quad}\over{\sb{3\left(\overline{G({\rm A})}\right)A(F)\sp*}}}\rho$$is in the discrete part of $L\sp2\left(GL(N,F)\sp*\\\overline{GL(N,{\rm A})},\ \chi\right).$ Such representation spaces ($\pi$ runs over all unitary characters of A$\sp{\times n}/F\sp{\times n}$ such that $\pi\sp{N} = \chi$ on A$\sp{\times n})$ generate the subspace of $L\sp2\left(GL(N,F)\sp*\\\overline{GL(N, \rm A)}, \chi\right)$ corresponding to the spectral point $\lambda.$ We also calculate other (non-discrete) residues of the Eisenstein series associated with the diagonal subgroup.
Characterization and parameterized generation of digital circuits

The development of new architectures for Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and other forms of digital circuits, and the computer-aided design (CAD) software tools for these devices is greatly hampered by the lack of realistic test circuits or benchmarks that exercise them properly. Benchmarking is a crucial process in the design of CAD algorithms, as layout problems are typically NP-hard and heuristic algorithms are required. This thesis investigates combinatorial structure in digital circuits. We define and analyze a series of graph-theoretic properties of combinational and sequential circuits, including a theoretical characterization of reconvergent fanout and metrics to capture the inherent locality found in hand-made or synthesized circuits, and propose a new model for describing sequential and hierarchical circuits. By measuring these characteristics on public and proprietary industrial circuits, we determine a realistic profile of circuits. From our set of new characteristics, we define the new combinatorial problem of parameterized random circuit generation, advancing a new paradigm for benchmarking in computer-aided design. We then present a heuristic algorithm which solves it, fully implemented in a publicly available tool, scGEN. Heuristic methods can only be judged on their actual results, and a key feature of the research is the empirical validation of the generated circuits. We compare standard post-layout metrics for the circuits produced by scGEN with existing benchmark circuits and with random graphs, showing conclusively both that the generated circuits are very good proxies for real circuits and that random graphs are not.
The existence and construction of Ã-valuations of 2-regular graphs with three components

A function f is a graceful valuation of a graph G with n edges if f is an injection from the vertices of G to the set $\rm\{0,1,\...,n\}$ such that, when each edge $\rm\{u,\ v\}$ is assigned the label $\vert f$ (u) $-f$ (v)$\vert,$ the resulting edge labels are distinct. This labeling provides a sequential labeling of the edges from 1 to n. Any graph that can be gracefully labeled is a graceful graph. If, in addition, there is a number $\gamma$ so that for each edge $\{$u, v$\}$ either f (u) $\le\gamma<f$ (v) or f (v) $\le\gamma<f$ (u), then the valuation is called an $\alpha$-valuation. In the work done here, we study the problem of the existence and construction of $\alpha$-valuations of special class of graphs: 2-regular graphs with three components. We show that every 2-regular bipartite graph with three components and no odd cycle has an $\alpha$-valuation if and only if the number of edges is a multiple of four except for one special case. We also investigate the existence of $\alpha$-valuations of 2-regular graphs with more than three components. We introduce certain improvements on the known results regarding this wide class of graphs. For instance, it is shown that a 2-regular graph containing five cycles, each of length 4k, has an $\alpha$-valuation. Furthermore we investigate the existence of $\alpha$-valuations for graphs composed of the disjoint union of n-cycles. The results considerably enlarge the class of 2-regular graphs known to have $\alpha$-valuations.
Analysis of differential gene expression in a complex differentiating hierarchy by global amplification of cDNA from single hemopoietic precursors

Underlying the process of hemopoietic differentiation is the activation and suppression of distinct genes. To understand the molecular mechanisms that control these events, global amplification of polyadenylated mRNAs was applied to single hemopoietic precursor cells. Siblings from nascent colony starts were useful indicators of the differentiative potential of hemopoietic precursor cells consumed in the global PCR reaction. Siblings exhibited uniform outcomes, although differentiative outcomes varied from one clone to another. By combining global PCR with sibling analysis, a set of cDNA samples was generated from 16 distinct stages of hemopoietic development. It was then possible to map the mRNA expression of 29 genes known to be involved in hemopoietic differentiation, growth and apoptosis, in hemopoietic precursors with differing commitment and maturation states. These results provided novel information on stage- and lineage-specific expression of these genes. A PCR-based subtractive hybridization approach was used to identify novel genes in single hemopoietic precursors. By hybridizing the subtractive clones to the set of cDNA samples, those with stage- and lineage-specific patterns of expression were identified. To establish whether the actions of growth factors on hemopoietic precursor cells were mediated directly or via accessory cells, the expression of 19 distinct hemopoietic growth factor receptor (HGFR) subunits were mapped using an extended set of amplified cDNA samples, representing 21 distinct stages of hemopoietic development. Southern analysis of the set of cDNA samples lacked the sensitivity required. Therefore, a secondary PCR was done targeting each HGFR subunit individually. It was observed that most HGFRs were broadly expressed throughout the hemopoietic hierarchy and that individual hemopoietic precursors expressed transcripts for more than one HGFR. This work establishes the potential for mapping the expression of any gene, of any abundance, to a level of resolution unobtainable before, and identifying novel genes that may be involved in hemopoietic commitment and differentiation.