VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
The rhetoric of the saints in Middle English biblical drama

Much past criticism of character in Middle English drama has fallen into one of two roughly defined positions: either that early drama was to be valued as an example of burgeoning realism as demonstrated by its villains and rascals, or that it was didactic and stylized, meant primarily to teach doctrine to the faithful. This thesis argues, however, that the primary purpose of Middle English biblical plays was neither of these. This thesis is both an argument for and a demonstration of the proposition that the saints in Middle English biblical plays serve as rhetors whose task is to persuade the audience to see itself as a community of faith. Using concepts from classical and medieval rhetoric, and certain ideas from modern reader-response theory, this thesis explores the methods of characterization and persuasion used in portrayals of Thomas the apostle, Mary Magdalene, Joseph the foster-father of Christ, and Paul the apostle. This series of case studies shows that the authors of the plays, though aware of the morally ambiguous nature of their dramatic and linguistic tools, nonetheless used all the means of persuasion at their disposal to create a compelling, interactive, and affective experience for their audiences, with the purpose of moving the audience to a position of sympathy and communion with the saints and with the god they serve.
Age-related resistance in the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringe pv. tomato system

Plants use a variety of constitutive and inducible defense mechanisms to protect themselves against potential pathogens. One such resistance response is age-related resistance (ARR). In ARR, older plants are more resistant to pathogens than younger plants. To characterize ARR the 'Arabidopsis thaliana' - 'Pseudomonas syringae' system was used. Several defense-response mutants ('npr1-1, eds7-1, etr1-4, pad3-1') analysed were found to be capable of manifesting ARR. However, 'NahG ' plants, which cannot accumulate SA, were not able to manifest ARR. PR-1, PR-5, PDF1.2, and SAG-13 gene expression was not correlated with the increased resistance observed during ARR. Using an 'in vitro' assay it was determined that a compound present in the intercellular washing fluid (IWF) of inoculated leaves from old plants was able to inhibit bacterial growth, while IWFs collected from young Col-0 plants, or 'NahG' plants, could not. This suggests that ARR is an induced defense response that requires a functional SA-pathway.
A microscopic model for non-fermi-liquid behavior and charge carrier pairing in a purely repulsive two-dimensional electron system

This thesis examines the properties of a new microscopic model for non-Fermi-liquid behavior and d-wave pairing in a strongly correlated quasi-two-dimensional (2D) electron gas with purely repulsive interactions. The microscopic Hamiltonian for this system involves a nearest neighbor electron hopping matrix element ' t', an on-site Coulomb repulsion 'U', and a nearest neighbor Coulomb repulsion 'V'. We suggest that nearest neighbor Coulomb repulsion on the energy scale of 't' stabilizes a state in which electrons undergo a "somersault" in their internal spin-space (spin-flux). Spin-flux is a new form of spontaneous symmetry breaking in a strongly correlated electron system in which the Hamiltonian acquires a term with the symmetry of spin-orbit coupling at the mean-field level. Spin-flux modifies the single quasi-particle dispersion relations from that of a conventional antiferromagnet (AFM). When this spin-1/2 AFM insulator is doped, the charge carriers are mobile, charged, bosonic meron-vortex solitons accompanied by unoccupied states deep inside the Mott-Hubbard charge-transfer gap. This model provides a unified microscopic basis for (i) non-Fermi-liquid transport properties for low and intermediate doping, (ii) mid-infrared optical absorption, (iii) destruction of AFM long range order with doping, (iv) angled resolved spectroscopy (ARPES), (v) d-wave preformed charge carrier pairs, and (vi) a transition from the non-Fermi liquid state to a conventional Fermi-liquid metal for large doping. The approximations used to study the 2D spin-flux Hubbard model are the unrestricted Hartree-Fock Approximation and the Configuration Interaction (CI) Method. In 1D, the CI approximation leads to excellent agreement with the exact Bethe Ansatz solution of the Hubbard model, as well as a clear demonstration of the spin-charge separation: the charge of the doping hole is carried by charged bosonic domain-walls, while the spin of the doping hole is carried by neutral fermionic domain-walls. In 2D, the CI method suggests a precursor to the spin-charge separation: addition of a single hole leads to the appearance of a charge-carrying vortex (the meron-vortex) bound to a spin-carrying antivortex.
Measurement of the refractive index of covalently immobilised oligonucleotide films on fused silica optical fibres for optimisation of a nucleic acid biosensor

The adjustment of refractive index of covalently immobilised organic films on surfaces of fused silica waveguides may be important in terms of optimisation of coupling of light from waveguides into such films. If the density of the organic film is greater than or equal to that of the substrate, then optically, the film and substrate will become one waveguide. This configuration should result in more power penetrating into the film (direct mode excitation) and should provide significant sensitivity advantages over evanescent wave excitation. The refractive index of organic films is related to the packing density, and the synthetic protocols used to covalently immobilise oligonucleotide-linker conjugates to fused silica substrates. Various immobilisation protocols were studied by quantitative HPLC to determine the degree of density control that could be achieved. Further work included AFM studies to estimate the RMS roughness, hence surface area of the substrates to provide a more accurate determination of the density of molecules on the surface. It was determined that the silanol number density on the substrates was the limiting reagent in these surface reactions. XPS and ellipsometric analysis provided further information about the nature of the structure of the immobilised films. The evidence suggested that the oligonucleotides existed in a collapsed film on the surface and not in the anticipated upright, close-packed layer. A simple technique called Angularly Dependent Light Scattering (ADLS) has been developed for the rapid determination of the refractive index of ultra-thin organic films that are covalently coated onto optically transparent substrates. The results suggest that it is possible to characterise the quality of oligonucleotide films assembled by different synthetic approaches on planar fused silica substrates by determination of refractive index. The measured refractive index values for the GOPS-hydride and mesylate activation strategy suggested that the refractive index for oligonucleotide films can be greater than the refractive index for fused silica waveguides. The potential advantages of using direct mode excitation and collection of fluorescence was explored from a theoretical perspective but could not be quantitatively evaluated due to instrumental limitations of the fibre optic spectrofluorimeter that has been designed for biosensor investigation.
Generation and characterization of antibodies with defined specificity towards fibronectin-binding sequences within the D-motifs of staphylococcus aureus FnBP

A fibronectin-binding protein (FnBP) of Staphylococcus aureus promotes adherence to extracellular matrix (ECM). FnBP possesses three 37- or 38-amino acid motifs (D1, D2 and D3) that each bind fibronectin (Fn) with low affinity and that in tandem comprise D1-3, a high-affinity Fn-binding domain. The C-terminal 20 amino acids of each motif possesses a conserved pattern of amino acids, GG(X3,4)I/VDF, which is essential for Fn-binding. To evaluate the feasibility of using these C-terminal Fn-binding sequences to produce adhesion blocking antibodies, synthetic peptides representing amino acids from 21 to 34 in the D1 motif (D1$\sb{21-34},$ HGGNIIDIDFDSVP) and amino acids from 20 to 33 in the D3 motif (D3$\sb{20-33},$ QFGGHNSVDFEEDT) were coupled to BSA or KLH and used as immunogens to generate polyclonal antibodies. Data suggested that synthetic peptides can be used effectively to generate antibodies that recognize sequences critical for Fn-binding. Consequently, monoclonal antibodies were produced using D3$\sb{20-33}$KLH as an immunogen. One of D3$\sb{20-33}$KLH-induced monoclonal antibodies, namely 9C3, was characterized and used as a probe to map the precise location of important epitopes inside the D3$\sb{20-33}$ sequence. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)
Modeling nonlinear ultrasound propagation in tissue

A new, computationally efficient approach for modelling finite amplitude ultrasound propagation is described. The model is able to simulate nonlinear distortion of CW and pulsed excitations from non-axisymmetric sources in tissue. We have developed a second order operator splitting approach, enabling the effects of diffraction, nonlinearity, and absorption to be calculated separately over relatively large incremental distances using a fractional step marching scheme. A computationally efficient angular spectrum algorithm has also been developed to calculate the diffractive propagation from non-axisymmetric, non-separable sources. Results of our model have shown close agreement with published data. Moreover, our approach may offer computational savings compared with existing models. Indeed, with our algorithm it should be possible to simulate the nonlinear propagation of sound beams from realistic medical ultrasound scanners, and perhaps to investigate ways to improve the design of tissue harmonic imaging systems.
The role of globotriaosylceramide in internalization and functions of globotriaosylceramide-bound protein ligands

Globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), the cell surface receptor glycosphingolipid for the 'Escherichia coli'-derived verotoxin (VT) mediates VT endocytosis and retrograde transport to the Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membrane. Since VT does not contain an ER retention sequence, Gb3 itself may determine the retrograde transport of Gb3-bound ligands. Intracellular trafficking of VT is dependent on different fatty acid containing Gb3 isoforms. Targeting of VT1 to ER and nuclear membrane, and sensitivity to VT1 cytotoxicity are determined by Gb3 isoforms with shorter fatty acid chains, whereas longer fatty acid containing Gb 3 isoforms mediate VT1 transport to the Golgi which is correlated with reduced VT1 cytotoxicity. The B-lymphocyte specific antigen, CD19 and the IFNAR1 component of type I interferon receptor are two integral membrane proteins, the extracellular domains of which have high amino acid sequence similarity to the Gb3 -binding VT subunit B, suggesting the possible lateral association between CD19 or IFNAR1 and Gb3 at the cell surface. Gb3 is also known as a cell differentiation marker CD77 of a subset of germinal center B cells, which are readily entering apoptosis. In the present study, antibody-crosslinked internalized CD19 has also been found to undergo retrograde transport to ER and nuclear membrane in Gb 3-positive cells only, providing further evidence of Gb3-dependent retrograde transport of a Gb3-bound protein ligand. CD19 mediated apoptosis and IFN-Ã-mediated antiviral activity also has been found to be significant only in Gb3-positive cells, indicating that structural association with Gb3 modulates the signal transduction and biological activities of CD19 and IFNAR1 Long chain fatty acid-containing Gb3 isoforms have been found to be more significant for IFN-Ã-mediated antiviral activity. VT is principally internalized via clathrin-dependent receptor mediated endocytosis and partially via clathrin-independent caveolar-mediated endocytosis. In the present study, relative role and intracellular destination of the two pathways for the cytotoxicity have been compared. Clathrin-mediated pathway is the major mechanism of VT1 internalization while Golgi-independent caveolar-mediated transport to the peri-nuclear region can be an alternative pathway. Despite the similarity between VT1 and VT2 in the structure and receptor binding specificity to Gb3, VT2 internalization is more restricted to the Golgi-dependent pathway.
Identification of the glomerular factor X activator in murine lupus nephritis

Glomerular fibrin deposition and induction of cellular procoagulant activity (PCA) are a hallmark of both human and murine glomerulonephritis (GN). The importance of activation of coagulation as a mediator of glomerular damage has been emphasized by studies in the BXSB model of lupus GN showing that defibrination reduced the severity of glomerular disease and prolonged survival, and studies in the MRL/'lpr' model characterizing a unique glomerular factor X activator, strongly implicate the glomerular factor X activator in the pathogenesis of murine lupus nephritis. Subtractive hybridization studies identified several genes, which appeared to be expressed in MRL/'lpr' but not Balb/cJ mice. One of these was osteopontin, which was considered as a possible candidate for the factor X activator. It possessed the following characteristics: similar molecular weight, contains a serine protease motif and a thrombin cleavage site similar to other coagulation factors, and is expressed in macrophages and endothelial cells of the glomeruli.
Artificial phospholipid membrane biosensor design, optimization of fluorescent probe loading and membrane structure

Incorporation of the fluorescent probe nitrobenzoxadiazole dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (NBD-PE) into lipid membranes facilitates fluorimetric transduction of changes in membrane structure. The optimum concentration of NBD-PE in phospholipid membranes used as models for biosensor development was determined using an empirical model recently developed by our group to account for alterations in the fluorescence yield of NBD-PE as a result of both static and, dynamic self-quenching. Two NBD-PE surface concentrations were found to yield close agreement with theoretically predicted optimum surface concentrations of 0.027 ± 0.001 and 0.073 ± 0.001 molecules NBD-PE nm-2 . Moreover, a heterogeneous membrane structure was shown to enhance signal magnitude, as structural heterogeneity facilitated dye-nucleated domain growth or destruction, resulting in changes in the local concentration of NBD-PE. Monolayers that exhibited laterally-separated phase domains on the microscopic scale provided enhanced sensitivity to perturbations of bulk pH due to enhancements in the rate of sub-microscopic domain formation induced by alterations of headgroup ionization status.
Modeling the structure and reactivity of metalloenzymes, dimethylsulfoxide reductase and nickel-iron hydrogenase

The Guided Tour of Metalloproteins was develop at the University of Toronto to help undergraduate students view the structure of metalloproteins in three-dimensions. The complex Mo(1,2-S2-C6H4)2(PMe 2Ph)2 was synthesized and characterized by X-ray crystallography and elemental analysis. Mo(1,2-S2-C6H4) 2(PMe2Ph)2 has a bisdithiolene structure similar to the active site of DMSOase. Mo(1,2-Sr2-C6H4 )2(PMe2Ph)2, MoCl4(PMePh 2)2 and Mo(1,2-S2-C6H4) 2(PMePh2)2 catalyze the transfer oxygen from DMSO to PPh3. 31P NMR estimated the turnover number and the percent conversion. Novel iron complexes that contain cyanide and carbonyl ligands have been synthesized and identified by X-ray crystallography with the goal of finding structures related to the active site of [NiFe]-Hydrogenase, (Cys)2Ni(Cys) 2Fe(CN)2(CO). [Fe(CN)(CO)(dppe)2]+ {(BPh3)2CN}- was observed to be crystallographically disordered, because the CN ligand is trans to the CO ligands. The molecule Fe4Cl6(CN)2(dppe) 5 contains two octahedral and two tetrahedral iron (II) centres and were compared to other known non (II) complexes. The new complex FeBr 2(dcpe) reacts with carbon monoxide to form 'cis'/' trans'-FeBr2(CO)2(dcpe). These dcpe complexes failed to react with cyanide under the conditions employed. Tin problems that I encountered in this research are (1) the lack of solubility of KCN in organic solvents; (2) lack of substitution of the halide ligand with cyanide; (3) formation of bridged Fe-CN-Fe complexes and (4) redistribution of the diphosphine ligands possibly because of the formation of K2FeCl 4.
Survival of osseointegrated dental implants in smokers and non-smokers

The purpose of this retrospective study is to evaluate the survival of Branemark endosseous dental implants in relation to cigarette smoking. The sample size consisted of 464 consecutively treated completely and partially edentulous patients who had 1852 implants placed between 1979 to 1999. The effect of cigarette smoking on implant survival in relation to the time of implant failure, gender, age, implant surgeon, date of implant placement, length of implant, implant diameter, site of implant placement, design of the prosthesis and occlusal loading considerations was assessed in bivariate and multivariate survival analyses. An overall implant failure rate of 143 implants (7.72%) was found. Patients who were smokers at the time of implant placement surgery had a significantly higher implant failure rate (23.08%) as compared to non-smokers (13.33%) when the data were assessed on a patient basis. Furthermore, a multivariate survival analysis showed that early implant failure is significantly associated with smoking at the time of stage one surgery, implant length and site of implant placement and late implant failure is significantly associated with a positive smoking history of 25 cigarette years, implant length and site of implant placement. This study indicated that cigarette smoking has a negative effect on implant survival even after accounting for potential confounding variables. Other risk factors for implant failures exist and must be identified when considering the causes of dental implant failure.
Syntrophin expression and interacting protein partners in the central nervous system

The Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy gene encodes multiple, tissue-specific isoforms of the dystrophin protein. These transcripts are generated through differential promoter usage and alternative splicing. The individual dystrophin isoforms function on one level to tailor functionally distinct protein complexes at the cellular and synaptic membranes referred to as the dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DGC). The loss of individual complexes are thought to be responsible for the manifestation of a central nervous system (CNS) phenotype associated with 363135 Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The dystrophin-associated syntrophin proteins have been shown to be responsible for the recruitment of signalling and membrane channel proteins to the DGC. Work in this thesis began by determining the expression patterns of the individual syntrophin isoforms within the mouse retina (Chapter II). This work led to the characterisation of a potential CNS-specific isoform of ß2-syntrophin (Chapter II). A yeast two-hybrid screen was undertaken in order to identify CNS-specific binding partners of the ß2-syntrophin isoform (Chapter III). This screen identified a novel protein whose further characterisation is ongoing.
The Raging Grannies, personal attributes of older women involved in popular education for social change

In this thesis I explore the lives and personal attributes of older women who are active members of the Raging Grannies movement. Qualitative methods of researching were utilized, including participant observation, focus groups, archival collection and a survey. An understanding of the 'Granny psyche' was gained through observing their pedagogy and recording life stories. A total of nine women completed a written survey and an additional 17 Grannies were involved in focus group meetings. I was in contact with over 100 Grannies through larger gatherings including a National Unconvention and Ontario meeting of Grannies for Good Government. Archival data collected included newsletters, brochures, 130 original songs and 144 newspaper articles. Information gathered was analysed to identify common characteristics and values which are descriptive of women who participated in the research. These Grannies held strong feminist values which were influential in forming a common curriculum for their popular education which focussed on peace, social justice and environmentalism. Other common attributes descriptive of Grannies included being creative, rebellious, empathetic, risk-takers, spiritual and humourous. Without exception, all Grannies involved in the study demonstrated a high degree of generativity, or concern for future generations. Findings are reported through Grannies' songs, pictures, stories and my reflections on the inquiry process.
Transmission pricing

This thesis presents a methodology to design optimal bidding curves for a generator according to his/her degree of risk aversion based on a given forecasted market-clearing price and the expected system demand. This methodology is then applied to a typical thermal plant that is assumed to be located in the Ontario electricity system and own by one of the following types of participants: Risk Averse or Risk Seeker. Since the forecasted market-clearing price is a relevant variable to find optimal bidding curves, and the methodology to obtain this price is still a research area, this thesis also introduces a method for forecasting energy prices using artificial intelligence methods such as neural networks, fuzzy logic and a combination of both. This new approach is compared with some of the existing methods. Additionally, various factors affecting the market-clearing price are investigated and results for the Ontario electricity market are presented., The thesis deals with the allocation of transmission costs among the customers based on its extent of use. Presently the electricity system in Ontario is being restructured and the transmission system becomes and independent entity that have to recover the costs it incurs through transmission prices. The Image Domain Algorithm was the method proposed and partially developed for allocating costs and a computer program was written to apply this method to the Ontario's system. A comparison of this approach with other methods used worldwide to do this allocation is also presented, finding that this method is more clear and seems to be fear for all of the agents involved in the electricity market.
Contending for national identity, a close examination of China's ethnic relations with Chaoxianzu minority as a test case

During the last decade, an increasing number of scholars and journalists have been paying close attention to China's ethnic relations and developments in nationalism. After the fall of Soviet Union, a number of former communist countries have been falling prey to the devastating power of nationalism. With the deterioration of Marxist-Mao Zedong ideology as the basis of state legitimacy in China, many are worried that the tempest of nationalism can also ravage China. This paper probes into the reality of China's ethnic relations and attempts present an accurate and holistic picture of the present situation with Chaoxianzu minority as a test case. For comprehensive understanding of ethnic relations and negotiated identities in China, it is necessary to examine how the contending views and images interact and evolve, because as Prasenjit Duara argues, nationalism "represents the site where very different views of the nation contest and negotiate with each other." This paper aims to capture and present several significant scenes from the site where the two distinct views of Chaoxianzu national image contest and negotiate with each other.