VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The effect of ginseng and the level of ginsenosides on blood pressure in individuals with hypertension

The two most commonly consumed ginseng types---Korean red ginseng (KRG) and North American ginseng (NAG)---lack randomized-controlled-trial (RCT) evidence for their effects on blood pressure (BP). We therefore sought to establish RCT evidence for their effects on BP, while also exploring if a relationship existed between BP and the level of ginsenosides---bioactive phytochemicals found in KRG and NAG. To address these objectives, three double-blinded, crossover RCTs (study-1, -2, and -3) were conducted in hypertensive individuals. In study-1, two batches of KRG (3g each) were tested, and the batch delivering a ginsenoside level of sim;20mg/3g significantly lowered BP for 160min relative to placebo, while the batch delivering sim;60mg/3g had no effect. In study-2, six batches of NAG (3g each; ginsenoside level-range: sim;155-200mg/3g) had no effect on BP for 160min relative to placebo. However, when the systolic-BP outcomes for the six NAGS were adjusted for placebo and compared there was a positive-increasing linear trend in systolic-BP across the ginsenoside levels, where the NAGS with the lowest and highest levels significantly differed in their effects. In study-3, 12-week intake of a NAG batch from study-2 at 3g/d showed no effect on 24-hour BP at week-12 versus placebo, which provided long-term confirmation of NAG's acute effect. These studies suggested that---relative to placebo---KRG could lower BP and NAG had no effect; also, the ginsenoside level showed a positive relationship with BP. To further explore these observations, post-hoc analysis-1 was performed. In it, data from study-1 (KRG) was pooled and compared to pooled data from study-2 (NAG), with both adjusted for placebo. While it showed KRG (median ginsenoside level: sim;40mg/3g) to be antihypertensive versus NAG (median ginsenoside level: sim;179mg/3g) the ginsenoside level---not the ginseng type---better explained this. Overall, these preliminary findings suggested that, at 3g, ginseng's (KRG and NAG) effect on BP is related to the ginsenoside level irrespective of the ginseng type. Post-hoc analysis-2 addressed the relationship between BP and the ginsenoside level, which ranged 10-fold across the 8 ginseng batches (2-KRG, study-1; 6-NAG, study-2). Linear-regression revealed a positive-increasing significant linear association, where the total ginsenoside level predicted BP.
What killed Yugoslavia? Social determinants of political collapse

This dissertation develops an empirically based analysis of the role of culture and key political institutions in the popular support for ultra-nationalists in the process of the Yugoslav disintegration and its aftermath. The dissertation responds to three key substantive questions. First, is there any validity in the often-repeated claims about the importance of "ancient hatreds" or "clash of civilizations" in the Yugoslav collapse? Second, did the erstwhile Yugoslav federalism contain or deepen ethnic tensions and conflicts? Third, does the enduring strong popular support for ultra-nationalists in some ex-Yugoslav republics mean that ethnicity has "trumped" class?

Keywords: Ethnology
Social structure
Path integrals, microlocal analysis and the fundamental solution for Hörmander Laplacians

In this thesis we present an explicit calculation of the heat kernel, fundamental solution and the Schwartz kernel of the resolvent for the Heisenberg Laplacian using Wiener path integrals and their realizations via Trotter product formula. This gives also another derivation of the Mehler's formula. We give a path integral formula for the heat kernel of some general higher step Hörmander Laplacians. We use also microlocal analysis, more explicitly the Weyl calculus of pseudodifferential operators to find the heat kernel for a model class of step 2 Hörmander Laplacians.
Gazing into the apartheid conscience:

Is there a morality to apartheid? As morality is always circumscribed by community it is evident that a society condoning racial segregation will follow a moral framework that justifies and demands apartheid. Given that the United States legalized racial segregation until the 1950's it is clear that moral codes accompanied the legal codes demanding this apartheid. While the legal codes have been disbanded, the fact that United States cities remain the most racially segregated urban areas in the world suggests that an apartheid morality still exists within white America. To explore and elaborate this segregationist morality I studied the contemporary white nationalist movement, the group most adamantly committed to defining and defending segregation. I analyze the moral framework of this movement and show the connections between nationalism, gender, sexuality, and race within it. I conclude with an analysis of the broader political manifestations of this segregationist morality.

Keywords: Segregation, Moral and ethical aspects
Segregation, United States
Race discrimination, Moral and ethical aspects
Race discrimination, United States
White supremacy movements, Moral and ethical aspects
White supremacy movements, United States
Learning partners as an instructional design strategy to promote collaboration and community building in the online classroom

This study analyzed how one collaborative learning strategy, Learning Partners, affected various pedagogical outcomes in the online classroom, such as community building, task completion, and learning. Learning Partners is defined as a grouping of two classmates for the purpose of facilitating learning based on course-related goals. Two case studies were used to observe the Learning Partner interactions. Case Study 1 studied 96 students enrolled in the preservice teacher physical and health education program at OISE/UT. Case Study 2 observed 7 doctoral students enrolled at OISE/UT in a seminar course on research issues in computer applications. Using two case studies facilitated the examination of a broad range of conditions that stimulated or conversely inhibited Learning Partner interactions. Both case studies used WebKF (Web Knowledge Forum) as their computer conferencing component to the course. A qualitative approach to data collection was conducted in order to attain a greater awareness of the variables involved with online Learning Partnerships. Pre and post questionnaires were distributed at the beginning and end of the course, field notes were generated based on online observations in the WebKF database, and student interviews were conducted at the mid-point of the academic year. The Learning Partners design generated many positive learning outcomes. Both case studies indicated that Learning Partners helped to establish a sense of online community-making students feel closer to their classmates and feeling less isolated online. Learning Partners also resulted in some students initially feeling less intimidated by computer conferencing. However, the results were not all positive. Students from both case studies indicated that they found the tasks assigned in the courses did not lend themselves well to using a Learning Partner because the tasks were considered to be straightforward enough to do individually, and did not depend greatly on a Learning Partner's input or feedback. If the tasks were made more challenging or more conducive to seeking a Learning Partner's input, many students felt that their Learning Partner would be a good first alternative to turn to for assistance and guidance.

Keywords: Computer-assisted instruction
Teaching, Computer network resources
Education, Computer network resources
Internet in education
Educational technology
"I saw what I saw": the media creates a miracle cure for anorexia

This dissertation is a critical case study, which explores the role of the media from 1993 to 1997 in creating Peggy Claude-Pierre as an "angel on earth" and "the last hope" for anorexics. Claude-Pierre founded Montreux Counselling after curing her two daughters of anorexia nervosa. She was featured in a number of magazines, newspaper articles, radio programs, American talk-shows, ABC's 20/20, and NBC's Dateline, as well as programs in Germany, Australia, Canada and the UK. This dissertation further examines the period from 1997 to 2000 in which there was a contest of representations about whether Claude-Pierre was an "angel" or a dangerously charismatic leader of a "cult-like" facility. I approach this study from the perspective that Montreux cannot be understood outside of the common notions of gender, class, and race, nor outside the common understandings of illness, miracles, and science. I propose that the rise of Montreux to prominence within a short period of time is connected to the economic and ideological nature of the media and of professional culture--both maintain a mystique about their ability to "know" and tell the "truth." It is this paradigm of objectivity and progress from whence their knowledge is conveyed to the public. I argue that the media and professionals, in conjunction with discourses of both miracles and empiricism, were all integral to creating Montreux as a world-famous center. The media based their claims about Montreux on testimonials. They ignored their own role in creating Claude-Pierre; therefore, they left the role and responsibility of journalists and talk show hosts as the most powerful storytellers, unchallenged.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa, Treatment
Anorexia nervosa, Media coverage of
Health in mass media
Mass media, Objectivity
Francis Poulenc, nostalgia and Parisian popular culture

In Poulenc scholarship, one repeatedly reads about this composer's propensity for using Parisian entertainment aesthetic in his oeuvre and for being described as moine et voyou . These persistent narratives give rise to numerous questions regarding the relationship that Poulenc cultivated with this type of lowbrow aesthetic. Despite the consensus that Poulenc made use of the popular idioms found in cafés-concert, Parisian music-hall, circus, country fair and bal musette, little in depth research has been done thus far to clearly ascertain what this aesthetic consists of and how it was applied. It also became apparent that the concepts of nostalgia and patriotism held important roles both in the composer's life and in his views of Parisian popular culture.
Stra 13: an E-box repressor protein expressed in mammary epithelial cells

The basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) protein family includes a wide variety of ubiquitous and tissue specific transcription factors which contribute to the development of many organisms. bBLH factors typically act as DNA-binding regulators of transcription through recognition of CANNTG E-box DNA elements present in cis-regulatory regions of target genes. In order to gain insight into the function of the bHLH factor Stra13, my project first involved an analysis of E-box-dependent transcriptional repression by this bHLH protein. I have found that Stra13 proteins form homodimers that recognize E-box elements in vitro and act as transcriptional repressors in COS7 and mammary epithelial cells by a mechanism which requires recognition of cis-regulatory E-box elements. Secondly, I have performed an analysis of Stra13 expression in mammary gland cells. I have found that Stra13 protein levels are regulated by the antagonistic effects of EGF and the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone in in vitro grown mammary epithelial cells. In addition, I have found that Stra13 mRNA is differentially expressed in vivo during mammary gland development. Together, my results support Stra13 as a candidate bHLH transcriptional repressor of E-box regulated genes in the mammary gland.
DNA methylation and cell-specific expression of endothelial genes

Differences in DNA methylation are functionally important for the cell-specific expression of eNOS. This study has shown that many other endothelial genes, namely CD31, vWF, ICAM-2, P-Selectin, Tie2 and VE-Cadherin, display differences in DNA methylation when endothelial and non-endothelial cell types are compared. In contrast, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 do not display such differences and are unique in that they are expressed very early, prior to the onset of blood flow during vascular development. This suggests that the timing of expression with respect to onset of blood flow may be an important determinant of whether or not endothelial genes are regulated by DNA methylation. We have also demonstrated that early EPCs possess a DNA methylation status similar to that of non-endothelial cells, while late EPCs possess a DNA methylation status similar to that of endothelial cells. This suggests that as EPC differentiate, demethylation may be occurring at many endothelial specific genes.
The role of TRAF1 in the immune response to influenza virus

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family proteins are essential regulators of life and death in the immune system and bind to adaptor proteins called TNFR associated factors (TRAFs). TRAF2 acts downstream of several TNFRs and links them to survival. TRAF1 appears to function as a modulator of TRAF2. To date, there have been conflicting results as to whether TRAF1 plays a positive or negative role in signaling by TNFRs. To elucidate the role of TRAF1, we compared the immune response to influenza virus in WT versus TRAF1-/- mice. TRAF1-/- mice exhibit decreased expansion of Db/NP366--374 specific CD8 T cells. Furthermore, TRAF1-/- T cells showed reduced IL-2 production and reduced Bcl-XL upregulation in response to anti-CD3 plus 4-1BB signaling and were also more prone to cell death in culture. Overall, the results show that TRAF1 in both T cells and non-T cells is a positive regulator of the T cell response.
Influence of organizational factors on clinical cultural competence

This qualitative research used a case study method to study clinical cultural competence at one hospital located in a large city in Canada. The study explored the overarching central question: how does the organizational and practice environment influence the understanding and enactment of clinical cultural competence in an organization embarking on a deliberate process of organizational and practice change? Interviews with clinicians, administrators and organizational diversity consultants (N=40), along with field notes and a review of selected documents were used to: (a) examine clinical cultural competence from the clinicians' perspective; and (b) describe key factors and processes within the practice environment that support or limit the provision of such care. The research was situated within a theoretical framework for practice development proposed by Kitson, Harvey McCormack (1998) that identifies practice development to be a function of three key variables: evidence, context and facilitation. The philosophical stance of critical realism was used to analyze the findings. Results indicate that despite a significant organizational commitment to diversity, cultural competence in clinical care was largely limited to awareness and lacking in application in practice. Cultural competence was described in terms of adding a layer of cultural understanding to clinical care; however, this was accompanied by a feeling of inadequacy with respect to cultural issues. This study further revealed an overlap and a need to differentiate between cultural competence and client-centered care. The overall organizational approach was one of mandated change and included the development of various initiatives such as diversity policy and mandatory training for all staff. However, these initiatives were experienced both positively and negatively; indicating a need to examine not just what resources exists in an organization, but also how they are experienced. Although leadership was evident in the form of organizational commitment, it was not translated into care. The findings suggest a reconsideration of two of the most frequently recommended strategies--diversity training and enhancing workforce diversity. In addition, the findings also suggest enhancements to practice development framework to address complex phenomenon such as clinical cultural competence. These are further discussed in the dissertation report.

Keywords: Nursing
Health services administration
Modulation of HIV-1 Rev transport and function

The Rev protein is an essential regulatory factor for HIV-1 replication that functions as a post-transcriptional activator of HIV-1 gene expression. Production of the structural and enzymatic viral proteins is critically dependent on the ability of Rev to transport the incompletely spliced viral transcripts from the nucleus to the cytoplasm for translation. In order to function, Rev is required to localize to the nucleus through its nuclear localization signal (NLS), interact with its target viral mRNAs through a Rev-responsive region (RRE) common to these transcripts, and, through its nuclear export signal (NES), transport the substrate viral mRNA to the cytoplasm. Through the combined activities of nuclear localization and nuclear export signals, Rev continuously shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Despite its continuous shuttling, Rev accumulates primarily in the nucleolus and nucleus under steady state conditions. Rev localizes to the nucleus in a manner distinct from the “classical” SV40 large T antigen NLS (SVNLS) while requiring the import factor Importin β. However, upon treatment of cells with the drugs Actinomycin D (Act.D) or dichlorobenzimidizole riboside (DRB), Rev redistributes to the cytoplasm. This redistribution cannot be attributed to the general inhibition of protein nuclear import, or to tethering of Rev away from the nuclear import machinery. Instead, cytoplasmic accumulation of Rev is due to inversion of the relative rates of nuclear import and nuclear export. In addition to Act.D and DRB, osmotic and oxidative stress and certain serine/threonine kinase inhibitors similarly induce cytoplasmic accumulation of Rev. However, there is no correlation between induction of Rev cytoplasmic accumulation and phosphorylation of either Rev or its export receptor. Three related activators of Rev activity, Sam68, SLMI and SLM2, and inhibitor of Rev activity, Sam68ΔC (a C-terminal deletion mutant of Sam68), in contrast to the drug treatments, do not affect Rev activity by altering Rev subcellular localization. While the activators had little/no effect on the subcellular localization of the unspliced Rev-dependent mRNA, the transdominant negative inhibitor, Sam68ΔC, inhibits Rev activity by causing perinuclear accumulation of the unspliced RNA, presumably thereby sequestering the RNA away from the translational apparatus of the cytoplasm.
Evolution of the heart: education's need

This thesis aims to reveal the key component to learning—the understanding of the conscious heart. Once the understanding of the conscious heart and its courage is accepted, individuals can remain open to life experience. A holistic learning environment encourages an awareness of this consciousness. This thesis ultimately explains the heart's link to the mind, and how this link can be further developed through the actions of the body, for instance participating in art; revealing each individual's creative potential flourishes once the imagination is unleashed. It is hoped that, once these concepts are understood, the individual will believe in the power of his creative potential. By explaining the primordial origin, this thesis aims to bring forth an awareness that is required to teach and live everyday. This thesis hopes to bring out the creative potential that is within everyone, a potential that can be expressed without worry of fear or judgement.

Keywords: Learning
Heart, Psychological aspects
Spiritual formation
Mind and body
The measure of our care: The politics of place and animal presence in contemporary North American narrative

Richard Kerridge writes that the present ecological crisis is partly "a failure of narrative" (4). This thesis explores the ways in which a range of contemporary, predominantly Canadian and American authors (with the notable exception of J.M. Coetzee) address this "failure" in their own works. In the spirit of moral philosophical inquiry, the writers I examine question the adequacy of narrative in the context of environmental crisis and the utility of various literary traditions---the autobiography, the bildungsroman, the sentimental animal story---in soliciting the affective and ethical engagement of their readers. I frame close readings of Terry Tempest Williams's Refuge, Chip Ward's Canaries on the Rim, Eden Robinson's Monkey Beach, Barbara Gowdy's The White Bone, Yann Martel's Life of Pi, and J.M. Coetzee's Elizabeth Costello within a brief historical survey of American ecocriticism, charting its emergence as distinct sub-discipline and identifying the formal and theoretical concerns that inform the two "waves" of scholarship Lawrence Buell anatomizes in The Future of Environmental Criticism. I also present an account of what we might begin to think of as a parallel, rather than cognate, Canadian tradition. My dissertation maps the traditional concerns of "first wave" ecocriticism and the revisionist concerns of "second wave" ecocriticism onto a rough continuum that advances from Williams's and Ward's ecobiographies to Robinson's critique of environmental racism and literary hermeneutics. In the third chapter, which focuses on the biocentric narratives of Gowdy, Martel and Coetzee, I suggest a "third wave" of inquiry, one that applies the deep ecology of a "first wave" approach and the theoretical rigour of a "second wave" approach to the subject of the animal. Throughout the thesis I focus on formal innovation, generic recuperation, and oppositional strategies in the texts I examine. These techniques and the interdisciplinary methodologies they invite suggest dynamic ways of re-conceiving the roles of literature and literary theory in the context of twenty-first-century pressures.
Changes in respiratory control after 5 days at altitude

Exposure to hypoxia leads to a progressive increase in ventilation. In this study, we examined the corresponding changes in respiratory chemoreflex response using a modified rebreathing method and sampled arterialized venous blood to determine values for the Stewart approach to acid-base balance before ascent to altitude (173 m), after 5 days at altitude (3480 m) and six weeks after returning from altitude. While hypoxic and hyperoxic isoxic rebreathing sensitivities to CO2 were unchanged at altitude, their P CO2 thresholds fell by an average of 12.8 +/- 2.3 mmHg and 9.5 +/- 1.6 mmHg; returning to previous levels after descent. We measured the Stewart independent variables and used them to convert P CO2 thresholds to H+ thresholds. Using a model of chemoreflex control, the chemoreflex findings were interpreted as follows: the respiratory alkalosis resulted from a decrease in the peripheral chemoreflex threshold, combined with a decrease chemoreceptor drive threshold. The blood sample data was interpreted as suggesting that the respiratory alkalosis was partially corrected, not by renal alterations of strong ions, but by an elevation in weakly-dissociated protein anions.
How do discourses shape policy processes?: a case of internationally educated teachers in Ontario

This study explores the policy for internationally educated teachers, immigrants with teaching qualifications who intend to practice teaching in Ontario. Using the methodology of policy discourse analysis, I ask how discourses structure policy processes that involve a wide range of policy actors. The analysis of data reveals that the current policy processes are under the strong influence of the market discourse and the discourse of liberal impartiality. These discourses narrowly define the value of diversity and exclude difference, whereby shaping practices in ways that limit the inclusion of immigrant teachers. The study also interrogates conditions and strategies that allow predominant discourses to maintain their status of power. I end by rearticulating counter discourses that would allow us to reconsider the meaning of diversity and perceive alternative policy approaches beyond the limits of predominant discourses.