VictorJuiz/thesis huggingface dataset:
A difference of degree, educational restructuring and the perspectives of faculty from Newfoundland schools of nursing

This study stemmed from a belief in the value of addressing the needs of employees experiencing complex organizational change and a curiosity about how those employees evaluate the effect of major change on them personally. It explored anticipation of a new work environment from the perspective of those most intimately affected--the employees. The concerns of the nursing faculty within one university and four diploma schools of nursing in Newfoundland were explored as they anticipated the introduction of a common curriculum of basic nursing education, resulting from the Canadian Nurses Association's goal of 'entry-to-practice' by the year 2000, and a planned consolidation of three diploma schools of nursing. An exploratory research design, using standardized and researcher-designed questionnaires, was used to survey faculty perceptions ten months prior to the introduction of a collaborative bachelor of nursing program and two years before the closure of three diploma schools of nursing. All nursing faculty in permanent positions within the five Newfoundland schools of nursing were invited to participate. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and analysis of variance. Using sociotechnical systems theory as a framework, several work climate dimensions and personal/professional, curricular, administrative, and cultural issues were explored to determine the salient concerns for this participant group. The findings suggest that, for these participants, the proposed changes to basic nursing education in Newfoundland represented more than a difference of degree requirement. Several trends emerged from the results when the responses were examined for possible influences of demographics. It was quite evident from the results that participants were more concerned about the personal and interpersonal aspects of the change process than with curriculum-related factors. The participants agreed with the rationale for the change from a philosophical viewpoint and were optimistic that the changes would benefit future nursing students. They were more cynical, however, about the potential outcomes of these changes for them personally and professionally.
Utilizing information technology to improve order entry to manufacturing information process flows

This thesis revolves around a case study at GE Multilin, a global leader in the design and manufacture of microprocessor based protection relays and the headquarters of General Electric's Power Management Division. The company was in the midst of introducing a new product line that would add enormous complexities to the existing ordering and manufacturing processes. As a part of this thesis, an investigation has been conducted to analyze how information systems and related technology could be implemented to aid in the development and improvement of information process flows that would aid in supporting the introduction of the new product line at GE Multilin. Since this analysis took place at the same time that the company was beginning to establish its order entry to manufacturing processes, to sustain the introduction of its new product line, all information collected and recommendations generated were immediately shared with GE Multilin.
TEL-JAK2 chromosomal translocations and the PI 3' kinase and PKB signalling pathway

A subset of leukemic chromosomal translocations involve activated tyrosine kinases. The 'ets' transcription factor, TEL, undergoes translocations with several distinct tyrosine kinases including JAK2. TEL-JAK2 transforms cell lines to factor-independence and constitutive tyrosine kinase activity results in the phosphorylation of several substrates including STATs. In this study we have shown that TEL-JAK2 can constitutively activate the phosphatidylinositol 3' kinase (PI 3' kinase) signalling pathway. The regulatory subunit of PI 3 ' kinase, p85, associates with TEL-JAK2 in an SH2 dependent manner. TEL-JAK2 expression induces the constitutive phosphorylation of the downstream substrate Protein Kinase B (PKB)/Akt. Importantly, the pharmacological PI 3' kinase inhibitor, LY294002, blocked TEL-JAK2 factor-independent proliferation and phosphorylation of PKB. Mutation of a putative p85 binding motif within TEL-JAK2 did not affect proliferation, p85 binding or constitutive PKB phosphorylation. This suggested that scaffolding proteins may couple TEL-JAK2 to p85. The PI 3' kinase signalling pathway is downstream of TEL-JAK2.
Functional morphology of the hominoid forelimb, implications for knuckle-walking and the origin of hominid bipedalism

Modern African apes, 'Pan' and 'Gorilla ', engage in a unique form of terresrial quadrupedalism called knuckle-walking. They also share with humans a recent evolutionary heritage to the exclusion of Asian apes, and two competing hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of human bipedalism. One hypothesis views knuckle-walking as a synapomorphy of chimps and gorillas, having evolved after the divergence of humans from the last common ancestor with African apes. An alternate hypothesis proposes that knuckle-walking was present in the last common ancestor in the lineage leading to African apes and humans, implying that humans evolved from a knuckle-walker. This project has two main objectives. The first is to analyze extant catarrhine forelimb skeletal elements in order to quantify characters that may be functionally linked to knuckle-walking in African apes. The second objective is to determine the presence or absence of these knuckle-walking traits in selected fossil taxa so that inferences regarding their locomotion can be made. Two-dimensional video image analysis is employed to gather data on joint surface areas, angular measures, and joint surface curvatures in three anatomical. The study demonstrates that extant knuckle-walkers are characterized by emphasis on loading across the radial aspect of the wrist, as indicated by larger scaphoid relative to lunate radial surfaces, differences in the pattern of scaling across the proximal carpal row compared to other taxa, and enlarged area of contact at the scaphoid-capitate joint. Profile analysis across metacarpal heads two through five shows that knuckle-walkers are distinguished in the degree of change in curvature from ventral to dorsal aspect of the head, indicating weight-bearing across these joints. In addition, significant weight-bearing is indicated only for metacarpals three and four, despite observed differences between Gorilla and Pan in preferential digit use during knuckle-walking. Finally, the proximal articular surface of the proximal phalanx is medio-laterally expanded in gorillas and chimps. Comparison of a select number of Miocene and Pliocene fossil taxa does not reveal the presence of characters typically found in practicing extant knuckle-walkers.
The role of the SD100A domain in IFNAR1 in type I interferon signaling

The Type I interferon (IFN) system plays a prevalent role in regulating antiviral and growth inhibitory activities and in modulating the immune system. Study of the signaling pathways associated with these features of the IFN system has led to the observation that IFNs act in a species specific manner and that Type I IFNs are able to signal differentially using the same receptor complex. Furthermore, IFN subtypes require different extracellular receptor domains to elicit signaling. To assess the contribution of the SD100A domain of the IFNAR1 chain to Type I IFN binding and signaling, a chimaeric cDNA construct in which the SD100A domain of the murine chain was replaced with the human equivalent was constructed. This HMM/M IFNAR1 was introduced by transfection into IFNAR1 deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts and stable transfectants were established for study. Protein extracts from murine IFN-Ã4 treated HMM/M expressing clones and wild-type IFNAR1 (MMM/M) expressing clones show similar Stat activation. Antiviral and antiproliferative responses were also comparable in the MMM/M and HMM/M clones. These results suggest that the IFNAR1 SD100A domain does not contribute to Type I IFN binding and signaling in a species specific manner in the context of murine IFN-Ã4.
Molecular mechanisms underlying G protein disturbances in bipolar affective disorder, the role of ADP-ribosylation processes

This study examined whether the stimulatory G protein Ã subunit, Ãs, undergoes ADP-ribosylation in postmortem human brain, and whether disturbances in this pathway contribute to the elevated Ã s levels reported in bipolar affective disorder (BD). Endogenous, and cholera toxin (CTX)-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylated Ã s were characterized in postmortem temporal cortex by immunoprecipitation, and overlay comparisons of autoradiograms and Western blots of the [ 32P]ADP-ribosylated Ãs isoforms. Endogenous and CTX-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylated Ãs in temporal, occipital and cerebellar cortices of BD, and age/postmortem delay-matched controls were then separated by SDS-PAGE and autoradiograms quantified by densitometry. Ã s protein levels were determined by Western blotting. Two major endogenous [32P]ADP-ribosylated products (48 kDa and 45 kDa) were identified as Ãs-L and Ã s-S, respectively. Immunoprecipitation with Ãs specific antibody revealed a third endogenous [32P]ADP-ribosylated protein (39 kDa). Resolution by SDS-PAGE and limited protease digestion supported that this product corresponded to an Ãs-like protein, possibly a previously reported N-terminal truncated Ãs splice variant. Two major CTX-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylated products were also identified as Ãs-L (52 kDa) and Ãs-S (45 kDa). No differences were observed in either endogenous, and CTX-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylation of Ãs-L in BD temporal cortex. However, Ãs-L immunolabeling was significantly elevated and correlated inversely with endogenously [32P]ADP-ribosylated Ã s-L in this brain region suggesting reduced clearance of Ã s-L through the ADP-ribosylation pathway in BD temporal cortex. Reduced CTX-catalyzed [32P]ADP-ribosylation of Ãs-S in BD temporal cortex also supports this interpretation. Moreover, lack of differences in endogenous [32P]ADP-ribosylation of myelin basic protein (MBP) in temporal cortex of BD compared with controls suggests that elevations of Ãs are not due to underlying disturbances in ADP-ribosyltransferase activity but rather may reflect changes in disposition or availability that are specific to Ãs. Endogenous [32P]ADP-ribosylation of the 39 kDa Ã s-like protein was reduced only in BD temporal cortex. This decrement correlated with lithium concentrations suggesting that lithium may modify the activity of specific ADP-ribosyltransferases in this region. While the results of this study demonstrate that Ãs is a substrate for ADP-ribosylation and that a 39 kDa Ãs-like protein is also expressed in human brain, the findings do not support the hypothesis that alterations in ADP-ribosyltransferase activity per se are responsible for the higher Ãs levels seen in BD cerebral cortex regions.
The influence of in-cylinder flows on the flame kernel growth in natural gas fuelled spark ignition engines

The objective of this work was to determine the influence of in-cylinder flows on the natural gas combustion process in configurations representative of light duty vehicle spark ignition engines. Specifically, the influence of the flow field on the flame kernel development period was of interest. The interactions between the flow field and the combustion process were quantified by correlating characteristic in-cylinder fluid flow and mass burn rate parameters. The fluid motion, flame kernel development and the overall combustion duration were characterised using: (i) a two-component laser Doppler velocimeter for the in-cylinder fluid flow, (ii) a fibre-optic instrumented spark plug for the flame kernel growth rate, and (iii) a piezo-electric pressure transducer for the in-cylinder pressure from which the overall mass burn rate data is obtained. The measurements were made on an individual cycle basis. Results from a single cylinder V6 optical engine are reported. Physical interpretations of: (i) the flow field evolution and (ii) the interactions between the flow field and the natural gas combustion process are presented. The main contributions of this work are through: (i) the application of novel data processing techniques, and (ii) the exploration of the fibre-optic instrumented spark plug as a measurement technique in high swirl engines. For example, the discrete wavelet transform is used to show: (i) the energy cascade process in the non-stationary engine flow field over crank angle phase and frequency; and (ii) how the flow field evolution influences the early stages of the natural gas combustion process. The fibre-optic instrumented spark plug is shown to measure a mass-weighted velocity. Data from the fibre-optic instrumented spark plug data are shown to be biased by the large convection velocities in high swirl engines. This work provides the foundation upon which further investigations into the influence of different in-cylinder flows on the natural gas combustion process in spark ignition engines can be based.
The evolution and functional significance of stigma-height dimorphism in flowering plants

Genetic polymorphisms, have been widely used as model systems for evolutionary studies of adaptation and natural selection. This thesis investigates a distinct plant sexual polymorphism--stigma-height dimorphism (SHD)--and is the first comprehensive analysis of the nature of SHD, its taxonomic distribution, and its evolution and functional significance in animal-pollinated plant populations. SHD is characterized by discrete variation in stigma height with anthers positioned similarly in flowers of long (L)- and short (S)-styled morphs. The lack of reciprocity between stigmas and anthers in species with SHD distinguishes it from the well-known sexual polymorphism heterostyly. I compared floral morphology, incompatibility type and population morph-ratios of taxa with SHD vs. distyly. The systems typically differ in incompatibility status and morph ratios, yet SHD, like heterostyly, probably functions to increase proficient pollen transfer between floral morphs. I examined features of SHD in populations of the Mediterranean geophyte 'Narcissus'. SHD is widespread in the genus making it valuable for studying questions related to the evolution and function of the dimorphism. Self-incompatible populations of 'N. assoanus ' had morph ratios ranging from isoplethy (1:1) to L-biased, while populations of self-compatible 'N. dubius' were L-biased or monomorphic-L. There were no morph-specific differences in the species in outcrossing rates or female fertility suggesting that differences in pollen transfer and levels of assortative and disassortive mating contribute to the variable morph ratios. A computer mating model provided evidence supporting this hypothesis. To investigate the role of SHD in the evolution of distyly, pollen transfer and male fertility were examined in experimental populations of the annual herb 'Eichhornia paniculata'. Pollen transfer between morphs was typically greater than among individuals of the same morph. Mating patterns partially supported the validity of the Lloyd & Webb (1992) model of the evolution of distyly with SHD as an intermediate stage. The conditions of the model were satisfied when outcross transfers were considered but were met less often when selfing was included. While SHD seems likely to have been an inter-mediate step in the evolution of heterostyly in some groups, its occurrence in non-heterostylous families indicates that this is not always true.
An evaluation of development charges and their alternatives in Israel and in Ontario

Development charges are imposed by local planning authorities on developers to pay for infrastructure necessitated by new development. This thesis evaluates development charges against efficiency and equity criteria, and concludes that despite their shortcomings, they are superior to their alternatives. It also concludes that development charges should approximate marginal costs, and discusses possible techniques to achieve this goal. The thesis proceeds to evaluate the legal status of development charges in Israel and Ontario. In Ontario, new by-laws under the 'Development Charges Act' of 1997 are being developed, but municipalities may impose uniform charges within their area, without regard for the effect of location, type and density of development on the actual costs. These are likely to result in inefficiencies and perverse allocation of costs. In Israel, existing tools for raising revenue for infrastructure are generally inadequate and less equitable than development charges, and the thesis recommends that they be authorized instead.
Role of specific amino acid residues in the intracellular domains of human D1 dopamine receptors

In the past decade, over 300 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) have been cloned. Much has been learned in the structure-function relationship of these receptors. However, many questions still remain to be solved. D1 dopamine receptor (D1DR) plays an important role in central nervous system and in periphery. The role of specific amino acid residues in the intracellular domains of D1DR was investigated. I demonstrated that the D1DR was palmitoylated at the Cys347 and Cys351. These two cysteines were replaced with alanines both individually and together. The data revealed that palmitoylation was not involved in G coupling. A consensus PKA sequence into the carboxyl tail of D1DR. The data and analysis using the extended ternary complex model demonstrated that the PKA sequence close to the palmitoylation site conferred constitutive desensitization to D1DR. A spontaneous serine mutation of the first intracellular loop caused a constitutive activation of MSH receptor. It was shown that the serine to leucine mutation in the corresponding region of D1DR did not elicit constitutive activation or enhanced receptor-G protein coupling. The significance of the cdc2 phosphorylation site in the second intracellular loop of D1DR was investigated. It was shown that removal of the cdc2 site could abolish D1 receptor internalization, suggesting that this phosphorylation site, in addition to PKA/PKC and GRK sites, might also be involved in agonist-induced receptor internalization. The relationship between receptor density and maximal adenylyl cyclase response was examined. The data revealed that efficacy as measured by the response (maximal activation of adenylyl cyclase) varied with receptor density and reached a saturated state with receptor overpression. All the studies taken together signify that each GPCR may have unique features and should be studied individually. Conclusions obtained from one receptor or a 'prototype' should not be generalized freely to others only on the basis of homologous sequence or common topography.
A new approach for DAEs

This thesis introduces a new 'least squares' implementation of a continuous extension of an underlying discrete Runge-Kutta (RK) formula that is particularly effective for solving DAEs. The resulting method provides a continuous approximation to the solution of the DAE and does not assume that the problem has a special form or that the index of the problem is known. The methods we develop and implement include some that are based on underlying discrete formulas that were previously not considered suitable for DAEs because of severe order reduction or stability restrictions. Specifically we propose a particular implementation of a modified extension of these formulas and develop stability and convergence results which indicate that these methods can be effective when solving DAEs. Numerical results are included to verify this. We also investigate and justify an error control and stepsize choosing strategy that is based on directly monitoring and bounding the continuous residual (or defect) of the numerical solution. We investigate the relationship between the size of the residual and the local error for index one and index two DAEs. We also derive the extra order conditions that arise for special classes of index one and index two problems. Our fixed stepsize and variable stepsize numerical results confirm the improved order and stability that is achievable with our approach. These results also seem to indicate that our approach is less likely to run into convergence difficulties (with nonlinear equations that must be solved on each timestep) than is observed with traditional implementations.
Hepoxilins and neuronal repair, effects on SCG neurons after in vitro injury

The objectives of this 'in vitro' study were to examine the effects of hepoxilin A3 on (a) neurite outgrowth post-injury, and (b) intracellular calcium in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons. Two to 6 hours following injury, the % increase in neurite outgrowth (over NGF-treated controls) was 19.4% and 31.3% in NGF-treated cultures treated with 2.8 [mu]M HxA3 (HDHX) and 0.28 [mu]M HxA3 (LDHX), respectively. Six to 13 hours post-injury, outgrowth was 14.1% and 29.4% higher than in controls, for HDHX and LDHX groups, respectively. A rapid increase in fluorescence in the somata of uninjured, fluo-3 loaded neurons was evoked by the addition of LDHX or HDHX. By 8 seconds post-treatment with HxA3, fluorescence peaked and subsequently decreased after 1 minute to a new stable plateau significantly above rest. Our research has demonstrated for the first time the involvement of a specific lipoxygenase metabolite in the modulation of NGF-stimulated neurite outgrowth.
Negotiating successful return to work, perspectives of nurses with back pain

Absences from work due to back injury and pain result in high social and economic costs. Back injuries are particularly prevalent in the nursing profession, yet some nurses return to work in spite of back pain. Interviews with ten nurses who returned to work with back pain were interpreted through symbolic interactionism and analyzed with respect to the Person, Environment, Occupation model (Law et al., 1996). Occupational re-integration was theorized to be a transaction between the Person (the successful shift in the nursing identify), Environment (negotiation of support from coworkers), and Occupation (ability to negotiate a graded workload). The results of the study suggest insights for rehabilitation therapists, nurse unit managers, and occupational health and safety practitioners assisting injured workers with their return to work. Recommendations to institutions employing nurses are made for the purpose of preventing primary and secondary work-related back injuries.
Hydrology and distillation within a feather moss boreal forest floor

Precipitation, throughfall and diurnal fluxes, of moisture in the feather moss ('Pleurozium schreberi' [Brid.] Mitt.) forest floor were measured in a mature black spruce ('Picea mariana') stand in northern Manitoba, for one growing season (1994). In addition dewfall and distillation were monitored during four dry down periods. The study was based on daily gravimetric measurements of layers in the organic forest floor. Two experimental designs were used. One to measure throughfall and drainage in the forest floor, and one to measure distillation. Intensive measurements of the distillation experiment were made during dry down periods, which followed two days after a precipitation event. In addition, some microclimate data were collected. Stemflow was volumetrically insignificant, constituting less than 1% of gross precipitation for the season. Canopy interception was up to 60% of gross precipitation for small events, and ~15% for large ones. Moss interception is shown to be ~23% of total throughfall. Approximately 79% of throughfall inputs move through the moss layer within a few days of input events, and the ~21% retained by the moss is subsequently evaporated. During dry down periods, the direction and magnitude of moisture recharge was isolated by the experimental design. The upper five layer appears to gain moisture from lower layers through a process of distillation. It is likely that this moisture transfer enables the feather moss carpet to survive summer drought periods.