VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of luminescent transition metal complexes in polythionylphosphazene films for oxygen sensor applications

Three metal complexes, [Re(bpy)(CO)3(CN-t-Bu)]Cl (1) (bpy = 2,2-bipyridine), Bu4N[Ir(ppy)2(CN) 2] (2) and Ir(ppy)3 (3) (ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, Bu4N = tetrabutylammonium cation) were evaluated as oxygen sensors in poly((n-butylamino)thionylphosphazene) matrices. The phosphorescent dyes 2 and 3 exhibited exponential decays both in degassed solution and in the polymer films, with somewhat longer lifetimes in the polymer film. All three dyes gave linear Stern-Volmer plots, but 1 was rather sensitive to photodecomposition. The slopes of the Stern-Volmer plots for these dyes were compared to those measured previously for platinum octaethyl porphine (PtOEP) and ruthenium tris-diphenylphenanthroline chloride ([Ru(dpp)3]Cl2. The effective capture radius for quenching by oxygen were 1.7 nm for 2 and 2.7 nm for 3, relative to a value of 1.0 nm for PtOEP. Thus dye 3 is 2.7 times more sensitive to quenching by oxygen than PtOEP and more than 5 times more sensitive than ([Ru(dpp) 3]Cl2.
Moving towards a single economic market: should Australia and New Zealand further co-ordinate their competition policy?

Australia and New Zealand have a long history of close economic relations. Both are former colonies of Britain and inherited its parliamentary and legal system. Prior to adopting and developing US antitrust principles into a distinctly antipodean approach, competition law in both countries was based on UK legislation. Today, competition policy in Australia and New Zealand aims to combat the unique challenges of both countries including their geographical isolation from the world's major markets, relatively small population and insufficient market capacity to produce at minimum efficient scale. Not surprisingly both countries have similar but not identical competition regimes. Multiple domestic competition regimes entail a number of costs. This thesis considers options for the closer coordination of competition policy between Australia and New Zealand that aims to minimize these costs while at the same time allowing both countries to retain sufficient flexibility to develop a welfare enhancing competition regime that takes into account their unique economic characteristics.

Keywords: Competition, Government policy
Competition, Australia
International economic integration
Competition, Government policy
Competition, New Zealand
Narrative self exploration: the education of self-aware thinking

Each individual has a web of meaning, a network of concepts that coalesce to form a worldview. The web of meaning can be examined and transformed using tools of narrative self exploration (NSE). There are two main classes of NSE. The first involves the reflective study of world mythology and great literature. The study of mythology puts the reader in touch with universal human experiences and the overarching cultural worldview. Like mythology, literature also captures human experiences in narrative form, but here the worldview being expressed is that of an individual, the author, rather than a culture at large. In the second class of NSE, the narrative becomes even more personal, as we turn to the technique of journaling. Using methodologies developed by several experts, with a focus on the work of Ira Progoff, the journal becomes an intensive instrument for illuminating the personal web of meaning of each practitioner.

Keywords: Social psychology
Personality
Self
Self-perception
Conduct of life
Palladium-catalyzed intramolecular coupling reactions between aryl and vinyl iodides and allylic moieties

The effect of changing the allylic group in a palladium-catalyzed direct cross-coupling between aryl halides and allylic moieties was examined. beta-Heteroatom elimination was found to preferentially occur over beta-hydride elimination for substrates possessing an allylic moiety containing a good leaving group. Extension of the reaction conditions to the intramolecular coupling of aryl iodides and allylic alcohols allows for the rapid synthesis of a variety of carbo- and herterocycles containing aldehyde functionalities in good to excellent yields. Optimization of the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between a vinyl halide and allyl carbonate allowed for the efficient synthesis of six-membered nitrogen-containing cycles. The nature of the leaving group strongly influences the yield of the coupling reaction. Application of the optimized conditions to the intramolecular cyclization of a vinyl iodide and allylic alcohol indicates the utility of this methodology in the formation of carbonyl-containing heterocycles.
Encouraging youth scholarship: an avenue of empowerment

How ironic it is that the field of youth studies is written almost exclusively by adults. While feminist and antiracist discourses feature numerous women and non-white authors, there are few if any opportunities for young people to contribute scholarship about them. But why aren't young people taken seriously? Why won't we admit their words and perspectives into decision-making sectors of society? A long tradition of progressive scholarship on youth testifies that many scholars support empowering youth perspectives and positions. In schools, young people still most often tell the textbook back to the teacher in the "banking" tradition of education (Freire 1974). The way that universities privilege the adult "expert" perspective is also relevant, as professionalism is based on powerful ideologies of when young people are "ready" or "mature enough" to contribute to scholarship. This project, albeit in a modest and temporary fashion, sought to take young people seriously by experimenting with a way that social scientists could support the research endeavours of a group of youth, and grant a group of young people a kind of knowledge empowerment. The structure borrowed from models of graduate student/supervisor relationships, the thesis group, and participatory and feminist research structures among others, to attempt to create a semi-autonomous environment in a school to facilitate youth research. The radical expression of this research is that young people could construct original research projects of their own choosing. Thus, this study also highlights that it is possible to give youth something more than the "illusion of freedom" (Walkerdine 1988) common to liberal school settings, elite or otherwise. In a private school context, the project was able to study how seven young women responded to the challenge of becoming researchers-in-training, the supportive facilitator-researcher role, and how identities are produced along lines of race, class, and gender. Opportunities should be created for young people to research issues of interest. Lack of infrastructural supports for youth research indicates a pervasive hidden curriculum of "adultism" in both lower and higher educational settings, which is perhaps the best argument for encouraging young people to contribute to scholarship.

Keywords: Youth, Study and teaching
Youth, Research
Youth, Attitudes
Kelvin characteristics of substrate-attached protein layers and the protein microarray

The use of the Scanning Kelvin Nanoprobe (SKN) as a label free detection method for protein microarray-based applications has been investigated. It is argued that Kelvin physics can be used to collect information about the orientational/conformational state of a protein adsorbed to a surface. By recording changes in the surface potential of a protein with respect to its various properties (such as orientation, original dipole moment, different pH conditions and tertiary structure) it was determined that the actual dipole moment of the protein is the dominant factor affecting its Kelvin physics. The change in surface potential relative to the thickness of the protein layers was also studied, with the results discussed in terms of the Schottky model, and adapted to protein semiconductive properties including depletion width and band bending.

Keywords: Chemistry, Analytic
Biochemistry
Chemistry, Physical and theoretical
The effects of right and left amygdala kindled seizures on the female reproductive and feeding systems

Introduction. Women with epilepsy often suffer comorbid menstrual dysfunctions and weight gain. The present study examined the effects of seizures on the reproductive and feeding systems using the amygdala kindling model. Methods. Female Wistar rats were kindled from the left or right amygdala. Subjects were weighed weekly and vaginal cytology was assessed daily. Kindled subjects received a minimum of forty generalized seizures. Sham-kindled subjects were handled similarly but not stimulated. Twenty-four hours after the last seizure, kindled subjects and their yoked controls were sacrificed. Results. Kindled subjects had significantly more abnormal estrous cycle days and elevated levels of estradiol as compared to controls. Kindled subjects also weighed significantly more than controls and had significantly higher levels of leptin. No laterality effects were seen. Conclusion. Seizures of limbic origin cause changes in both estrous cycling and weight gain. They are sufficient to disrupt function in multiple hormone systems.
The numerical range and the core of Hilbert-space operators

The main object of this thesis is to study the numerical range of Hilbert-space operators. In 1973, T. Ando examined the geometric and algebraic properties of operators and developed a structure theory. In continuation of his work, there has been much progress, especially in the study of the core of a numerical contraction in terms of dilation theory and representation theory. In the first half of this thesis, explicit expressions for the minimum and the maximum of the core of a numerical contraction are studied. The expressions for these extremals are given as strongly convergent non-commutative operator series in terms of the given numerical contraction and its adjoint. This part of the thesis serves as a complement to T. Ando's theorem, in which we find that the operator series provides an efficient mechanism for writing a numerical contraction in terms of dilations and representations. The main tool employed is the theory of Schur complements of positive semi-definite operator matrices. Further discussions on the classical Catalan problem and another related combinatorial problem are also presented. In the second half of this thesis, matrices whose numerical ranges are the closed unit disc are investigated, and the structural expressions of those matrices are studied. As a result, matrices having elliptical discs as numerical range are found to possess the property that the foci of the disc are their eigenvalues. The structure theory obtained by T. Ando, especially the representation of numerical contractions, is essential in proving these results. Finally, the structural expressions of matrices with numerical range equal to the closed unit disc are used to provide an alternative proof for P.Y. Wu's theorem concerning the norms of matrices.
Does race of alibi witness affect juror decision making in a mock murder trial?

Past controlled research using mock trials found black defendants guilty consistently more often than white defendants. Recently however, research has generally failed to find this effect. One explanation is that prejudice has been greatly reduced; an alternative is people are more aware of prejudice, and consider it less acceptable. This results in an effort to avoid being influenced by racist stereotypes. The possibility arises that participants who are unaware that a negative stereotype has been activated may be affected by that stereotype. The current study focuses on the inadvertent prejudice caused by this process. Race of the defendant and key alibi witness were varied. Participants were randomly assigned to one of 4 conditions, read a trial transcript, and rendered a verdict. There was no effect of race of the defendant, but both white and black defendants were more likely to be found guilty when their main alibi witness was black.
Alzheimer amyloid-[beta] peptide aggregation: alternate products of fibril formation

In Alzheimer disease (AD), polymerization of the amyloid β peptide (Aβ) to form fibrillar deposits in the brain is associated with neurodegeneration. Because of this, researchers have worked to understand fibrillogenesis and the toxicity of fibrils. However, recent discoveries suggest intermediate structures in Aβ fibril formation are also toxic. We sought to gain a better understanding of intermediate structures in the fibrillogenesis pathway, describe conditions where Aβ forms biologically inert amorphous amyloid rather than neurotoxic fibrillar amyloid, and elucidate some of the extrinsic factors controlling conversion of Aβ monomers to fibrils. At low micromolar concentrations, Aβ40, the 40 residue form of Aβ, assembled into two types of soluble oligomers depending upon pH. Dimer/tetramers with irregular secondary structure formed at neutral pH while spherical particles with a mass of 0.94 megadaltons and β-sheet secondary structure formed at pH 3. Both structures were stable for at least 4 weeks; this stability will allow for further investigation using high-resolution techniques. In the laboratory, Aβ often precipitates to form non-specific aggregates. We sought to characterize these aggregates for use as an in vitro model for amorphous amyloid. These aggregates were β-structured at peptide concentrations >10 μM and unfolded at lower concentrations. The structured aggregates were tightly packed containing peptides inaccessible to water. Peptides in the unstructured aggregates were loosely packed, mobile and accessible to water. Structured aggregates appeared protofibrillar and developed into mature fibrils after several weeks whereas the unstructured aggregates were invisible by EM and did not generate fibrils. These findings suggest the unstructured aggregates share many properties with the amorphous amyloid of AD and may aid in studying amorphous amyloid in vitro. We used the organic osmolytes trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and glycerol as mimics of naturally occurring chaperone molecules to investigate their effects upon fibrillogenesis. TMAO and glycerol accelerated the Aβ random coil to β-sheet conformational change. This transition occurred with the immediate conversion of amorphous unstructured aggregates to uniform globular structures. TMAO and glycerol also mediated the transformation of protofibrils to mature fibrils. Thus, the effects of extrinsic factors such as chaperone molecules must be considered when studying Aβ fibrillogenesis.
In vitro bio-kinetics of iron chelators and their chelates

Bi-directional transport studies on Caco-2 and MDCK monolayers showed that physico-chemical properties predicted both chelator and chelate transport across Caco-2 monolayers, but only predicted chelator---not chelate---transport across MDCK monolayers. Chelates are transported significantly faster in the apical-to-basolateral direction of MDCK monolayers. Chetator-induced iron removal was found preferentially from the basolateral membrane of iron-overloaded MDCK monolayers, and showed strong temperature-dependence. High plasma protein binding was found for ICL670 and its chelate, but not for the hydroxypyridinones (CP363, CP502 and deferiprone) or deferoxamine chelate. In the absence of iron overload, transferrin was found to shuttle iron from chelates of all hydroxypyridinones but not from ICL670 and deferoxamine. Iron chelators are effective at removing iron from the body in disorders of iron overload, but little is known about the process of iron excretion, notably the handling of iron chelates by the intestine and kidney, and the role of plasma proteins. We hypothesized that chelators and their iron chelates have independent biokinetic properties that determine the pattern of chelator availability and transmembrane flux of the iron chelate. We tested this hypothesis with monolayers of cells involved in intestinal (Caco-2) and renal (Madin-Darby canine kidney, MDCK) transport. The plasma protein binding of chelators and their chelates was evaluated to comprehend how this might affect their biokinetics. In summary, distinct differences were exhibited by iron chelators and their chelates in transport studies using intestinal and kidney membrane cell models. The polarized transport of iron chelates across MDCK monolayers together with the preferential iron efflux from the basolateral membrane provide the first evidence that the kidney may play an important role in reabsorption of iron bound to chelators. Further research directed at finding the relevant transporter and the reasons for its selectivity among chelators is warranted. The distinctive plasma protein binding characteristics of iron chelates from different chelators further furnish evidence that there is a need for studying chelate properties during chelator development.
Student satisfaction as a managed outcome: relationship with other key performance indicators and expenditure and revenue allocations in Ontario's colleges of applied arts and technology

In 1998, the Ontario government established performance indicators for its publicly funded colleges and universities. A sub-set of these became the basis for performance funding in 2000. These actions were consistent with those undertaken by a number of governments, on the basis of increasing accountability and improving performance. The implementation of performance funding in Ontario was a significant event and was expected to have an impact on the behaviour of the institutions. This study examined the initial implementation period of the indicators, from 2000 to 2006. Student satisfaction had been identified as a significant outcome in previous research on performance indicators in Ontario. The study examined the relationship between student satisfaction and the other indicators. It also examined the relationship between student satisfaction and revenue sources and expenditure allocations. The study relied on a review of literature on decision making models, performance indicators and their implementation. It built on previous literature on the introduction of performance indicators into Ontario's college system. The study utilized linear multi-regression analysis to determine correlations between the indicators and revenue and expenditure categories. The study found that student satisfaction results of institutions were auto-correlated and becoming increasingly stable over the period of the study. Institutions experienced less change in results year to year and the previous year's result became a better indicator of the subsequent year's. The study also identified correlations between student satisfaction and some revenue and expenditure categories. A significant negative correlation was identified between student satisfaction and expenditures on bursaries and scholarships and a positive correlation was identified between student satisfaction and expenditures on staffing in student services. There was also a positive correlation identified between student satisfaction and ancillary revenues. There was a positive correlation identified between graduate satisfaction and graduate employment. Potential policy implications resulting from the analysis are discussed and suggestions for future research are identified.
The lived experience of college faculty: workplace change, workplace learning?

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore organizational trauma and work behaviors from the lived experiences of organizational trauma on the work behaviors of community college faculty members. The problem addressed the residual effects of organizational trauma on higher education faculty members’ work behaviors. Full-time and adjunct faculty members were emailed an invitation to participate in interviews. A qualitative and field-tested interview guide was used for data collection. The target population for the sample participant (N=10) was faculty members employed at the community college between the years 2012-2020. After interviewing participants and member checking, responses were transcribed and coded by hand, allowing for immersion into the data. The ten participants met the requirements and consented to a 50 minutes interview conducted on Zoom. The data analysis process identified phenomenological themes on how organizational trauma was propagated in a community college in Virginia. Five themes were extracted from the data identifying the trigger themes, professional impact, emotional impact, interpersonal relationships, and adaptation attempts. The results indicated that participants continued to experience the after-effects of the trauma events; each theme produced raw and in-depth suffering as if the events happened in the present tense. The recommendations for future research and practice should explore how higher education institutions acknowledge and facilitate a healing process for emotional healing and instituting the practice of resilience building. Because higher education institutions function with continual change due to restructuring, layoffs, a decline in student enrollment and funding, leadership should be studied to examine how they are trained to facilitate trauma impact and ways to incorporate healing through organizational forgiveness.

Keywords: Community colleges, Finance
Community colleges, Ontario
Community colleges, Management
Community colleges, Ontario
Educational change
Knowledge management
College teachers, Job stress
Organizational change
Educational leadership
Experiential learning
Identification and characterization of putative protein phosphatase-1c[gamma]2 regulatory subunits in mouse testis

Lack of interaction between PP1cgamma2 and the available pool of isoform-specific regulatory subunits in the testis has the potential to best explain the sterility PP1cgamma -/- mutants. Type 1 protein phosphatases are holoenzymes composed of a single catalytic subunit (PP1c) in complex with one or more regulatory subunits. In mice, three genes encoding four PP1c isoforms have been identified---PP1calpha, PP1cbeta, PP1cgamma1 and PP1cgamma2, the latter two being derived from alternative splicing of a single PP1cgamma gene. Although the highly conserved nature of the isoforms suggests some functional overlap between them, a unique role for the PP1cgamma2 splice variant has been suggested in the mammalian testis. Specifically, the process of spermatogenesis was shown to be impaired in male mice bearing a targeted mutation in the PP1cgamma gene, ultimately resulting in infertility. A lack of functional PP1cgamma2 seems the most likely cause of the mutant phenotype, as PP1cgamma2 is the predominant PP1cgamma isoform expressed in wild type testis. Spz1 and TIPP1 (amino acids 227--534) were shown to interact specifically with PP1cgamma2 in both yeast and mammalian cells, but did not show an interaction with PP1calpha or with a truncated version of PP1cgamma2 lacking 18 amino acids from the C-terminus. Both were expressed in a stage-specific manner during spermatogenesis, and appeared abnormally expressed in the testes of PP1cgamma mutant mice. Increasing concentrations of chimeric Spz1 or TIPP1 (amino acids 227--534) were able to inhibit the activity of recombinant PP1cgamma2 in a phosphatase assay using phosphorylase a, while having little effect on the activity of recombinant PP1calpha. The interaction between PP1calpha2 and Spz1 was also shown to prevent binding of the latter to the consensus E-box promoter sequence. I have hypothesized the presence of one more regulatory subunits in the testis that interact specifically with PP1cgamma2, allowing it to mediate a function required for proper spermatogenesis. Yeast two-hybrid screening has identified at least five testis proteins that have the potential to act as PP1cgamma2-specific regulatory subunits, including the spermatogenic zip protein Spz1, a variant of endophilin B1a, a protein designated TIPP1 for t barbelow;estis i barbelow;nteractor of p barbelow;rotein p barbelow;hosphatase-1 barbelow;, and two uncharacterized testis proteins.